Mansfield production company awarded £126,000 to help survive pandemic

Entertainment Sound Specialists have been given the vital boost thanks to the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The Mansfield-based company works on concerts, tours and events. Originally focusing on reggae and Indian music scenes, they have since worked with artists including Amy Winehouse, Faithless, Jarvis Cocker, and Ghostpoet, supporting festivals such as Nottingham Riverside Jazz Festival, Nottingham Mela, and Latitude.

This funding will cover overhead costs while allowing staff to train and develop technology, taking advantage of extra time available during the pandemic to develop niche cultural support skills.

A further £892,498 investment for Nottinghamshire, awarded through Arts Council England, will help nine theatres, galleries, performance groups, arts organisations, museums and local venues who are facing the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, to ensure that they are able to have a sustainable future.

Peter Knott, area director for Arts Council England, said: “We’re delighted the Culture Recovery Fund has enabled support for a wide range of arts and cultural sector companies across Nottinghamshire.

“This latest set of awards builds on those announced recently and will help hundreds of organisations to survive the next few months, ensuring that the cultural sector can bounce back after the crisis.

“The Government’s package is hugely welcome, providing much of the sector with resources to remain in business through to the spring.

“Well-loved community projects, theatres, galleries, museums, clubs, music venues, festivals, key cultural suppliers along with other creative spaces and projects have benefitted.”

He added: “We know that creativity, arts and culture benefit us in so many ways, having a positive impact on our wellbeing, bringing us together and making a significant contribution to the local and national economy – this gives us a chance to continue that and contribute to the national recovery, post-Covid.”