More Sheffield organisations receive Government funding but how is this being spent?

Sheffield’s cultural and heritage sector have been awarded more funding as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, however, some question how the money is being spent.
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Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust is one of 588 cultural and creative organisations across the country that has received financial support to help face the challenges that the pandemic has brought.

A total of £98,978 will go towards sustaining the reopening of Kelham Island Museum by supporting the visitor services staff team, education and learning services and the conservation engineering teams.

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Fiona Elliott, interim director, said: “We are delighted to have received this grant. It will enable us to keep the important heritage of Sheffield cared for and accessible for the people of Sheffield. Being able to provide cultural activities, and to help people to explore our past is important for the wellbeing of our City. This is true at any time, but particularly now more than ever.”

Kelham Island Museum (credit Joe Horne)Kelham Island Museum (credit Joe Horne)
Kelham Island Museum (credit Joe Horne)

As a result of Covid-19 restrictions and the cancelling of school visits and other events, Kelham Island Museum has seen a significant loss of income.

Now a Covid-19 secure space, the grant will be vital in helping the trust refocus and adapt, with aims to build visitor numbers back up to more sustainable levels.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This is more vital funding to protect cultural gems across the country, save jobs and prepare the arts to bounce back. Through Arts Council England we are delivering the biggest ever investment in the arts in record time.”

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A share of the £76 million, some of which was awarded to Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust - whose other sites include Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Shepherd Wheel Workshop - follows that of the £257 million awarded to 1,385 organisations last week.

Kelham Island Museum - River Don Engine (credit Joe Horner)Kelham Island Museum - River Don Engine (credit Joe Horner)
Kelham Island Museum - River Don Engine (credit Joe Horner)

With more funding due to be issued to other organisations in the coming weeks, it has left some Sheffield people questioning how such money will be spent.

Gary Footitt believes that grants like that of the Culture Recovery Fund may actually be funding redundancies in some cases.

He said: “Most have been on social media thanking the Arts Council and laying out their plans on how they will use the money, how it's going to help them survive, what improvements they plan on making moving forward etc.”

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In reference to one organisation - who have not yet stated its intentions for the money - Gary suggests that if rumours are true regarding its potential closure, this would go against the aim of the grant.

He explained: “If these rumours are true it seems totally wrong for public money to essentially be spent on paying the redundancy liabilities of a private company. How many nurses, doctors or police officers could that have employed for a year? Or how many other grass root venues and their staff jobs could that amount have benefited/saved? Instead it seems to have been marked on being spent to aid them in their costs for closing the business, and adding more people to the UK's unemployment total, which if true, surely is completely opposite to what the aim of the grant is for.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.