We are very pleased and relieved to have been awarded funding from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) today.

The impact of the pandemic had not only curtailed our 50th anniversary season, it had left the organisation in a perilous financial position with all concerts cancelled since March, and our schools and hospital projects unable to go ahead in person.

Donations from many people to our Coronavirus appeal has made a huge difference. The Cultural Recovery grant now secures Ex Cathedra’s immediate future. 

Whilst today is a crucial day for organisations like Ex Cathedra, the arts sector is not out of the woods yet. Ultimately we need to be able to invite you, our audiences safely back at pre-pandemic attendance levels as soon as possible. Until then, every concert we give will make a considerable loss.

The reduction in box office revenue from audience distancing needed to safely reopen will cause ongoing financial challenges for the foreseeable future, but this vital funding will help us navigate at least the next 6-9 months, restart our concerts programme in a limited way, and continue to deliver a programme of education and participation projects in a revised digital format.

We are also very mindful today of the freelance musicians whose livelihoods depend on arts organisations and venues operating at, or near, to normal. They also need support at this time. We will continue to engage them as much as possible and are sorry we can’t engage them as much as we had planned over the coming months.