A THEATRE in Burnham-on-Sea has received more than £66,000 of funding.

The Arts Council have announced the second lot of cultural organisations who will receive a share of the Culture Recovery Fund – and The Princess Theatre is one of them.

Awarded £66,702, the theatre plans to use the funding to reopen early next year.

Councillor Louise Parkin, chairman of the Princess Management Committee, said: “The funding supports our ambitions to reopen to the public in early 2021 and allows us to put infrastructure in place - both physically in terms of COVID safety for our audiences, and also in terms of income generation.

“We know that for every £1 spent by customers on attending the arts, £5 is spent in the local economy.

“Culture is hugely valuable to the recovery post coronavirus and The Princess is very lucky that not only our town council supports that view, but now the Arts Council and our Government.

“We must give huge thanks to our staff who have worked on this application, in particular Beccy Armory, business development officer, who worked tirelessly to meet the short deadline.

“Thanks also goes to our supporters, their contributions have played a big part in our plans for the future.”

The Princess Theatre and Arts Centre is one of 588 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support – with £76 million of investment announced today (October 17).

Further funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the next few weeks.

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. Hundreds of millions of pounds are already making their way to thousands of organisations.

“These awards build on our commitment to be here for culture in every part of the country.”

Other organisations in Somerset that have received funding include Shangrila Glastonbury, the Creative Innovation Centre in Taunton and the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil.