MORE than £100,000 has been allocated to the arts in Ludlow as part of the latest stage in a recovery plan for the sector from Government.

Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, has welcomed announcement of government funding to support arts and cultural venues in south Shropshire.

The funding forms part of the second round of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, with more than £390 million of funding being allocated to over 2,700 arts, culture and heritage organisations in England.

This means nearly all of the original £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund has been allocated, with over £1.2 billion in grants and repayable finance offered to more than 5,000 organisations and sites, and further grants to be finalised over the coming weeks.

In Shropshire, the biggest beneficiary is Arts Alive that will pocket more than £64,000.

But Ludlow Assembly Rooms that has already benefitted from a large hand out is set to receive another £45,000.

The Ludlow Fringe Festival that is due to start on Saturday, June 19, two days before what is planned to be the removal of all restrictions has been allocated £49,950.

There is also a grant of £3,500 for Stokesay Court, a historical house north of Ludlow and the normal venue for the Ludlow Rotary Club charity Dog Day, although the event has been cancelled for the second consecutive year.

Although it was schedules for July, the organisers say that there is not enough time to put plans into place.

“I am delighted South Shropshire has benefitted from this second round of the Culture Recovery Fund, with grants of over £185,000 to support arts and culture locally,” said Mr Dunne.

“As venues cautiously begin to open this month, in line with the government’s roadmap, I hope this funding will allow the substantial arts and culture offering in south Shropshire to survive and thrive, for local residents and visitors alike.”