ARTS and culture across the borough could be set to benefit from a huge cash injection from Government funding.

A pot of £1.57 billion has been set aside to support cultural organisations in Bury and around the country, the Government has announced today.

Emergency grants and loans will be awarded from the package to a number of sectors, including performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema.

This represents the biggest ever one-off investment in the sector, according to claims by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The move has been welcomed by both of the borough's MPs, who said they hoped the funding would support jobs and the future of Bury's cultural output and institutions.

Bury North MP, James Daly, said he was 'delighted' by the announcement, adding: "Iconic institutions such as The Fusilier’s Museum in Bury are already in receipt of unprecedented financial assistance to see them through the pandemic.

"This new package is particularly welcome as the economy cautiously reopens again.

"The ability to access emergency grants and loans will help to safeguard jobs and rebuild the sector as paused projects restart in the performing arts and theatre.”

Bury South MP, Christian Wakeford, said: “This is welcome news for all our arts venues across Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich.

"This funding will not only secure local jobs but means venues can weather the storm created by coronavirus and come back stronger, and continue to be there for local residents and future generations to enjoy."

Out of the Government funding package announced today, some £1.15 billion of support will be made available for cultural organisations in England through a mix of grants and loans.

This will be made up of £270 million of repayable finance and £880 million of grants, the DCMS said.

A further £100 million of support will be targeted at national cultural institutions in England, and the English Heritage Trust.

Meanwhile, £120 million of capital investment will be used to restart construction on cultural infrastructure and for heritage construction projects in England which were paused due to the coronavirus pandemic.