Cultural venues to receive nearly £130 million in government funding

Fahad Redha

April 16, 2026
3 min read

Cultural venues to receive nearly £130 million in government funding

130 cultural venues, museums, and libraries in England will receive a £127.8 million “funding boost” from the government, “helping to ensure that everyone can access arts and culture in the places they call home.”

The cultural venues, including The Lowry Centre in Salford, The Hexagon in Reading and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Warwickshire, will receive the “much-needed” cash boost to help them “open up access to facilities, complete much needed building projects, and upgrade technology on site,” according to the government.

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The 130 organisations set to receive the funding mark the first projects to be given cash from the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund. “As the cost of living continues to affect families across Britain, funding for these venues will help provide welcoming, affordable spaces for communities to visit, come together and celebrate what makes their local area special,” the government said.

The Cultural Secretary recently committed up to £1.5 billion to the cultural sector over this parliament, through the Arts Everywhere Fund that aims to save over 1,000 “cherished” cultural venues, museums, libraires, and heritage buildings across England. The £127.8 million, administered and delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is made up of three funds.

The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) allocated £96 million to 74 arts and cultural venues to help “theatres, performing arts venues, galleries, and grassroots music venues address urgent infrastructure needs.” The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has allocated a share of £25.5 million to support 28 museums to “undertake vital infrastructure work and improve the visitor experience. And finally, the Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) has allocated a share of £6.3 million to 28 library services to help upgrade buildings and technology to “better meet the needs of the community.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.