Funny Women has been awarded £80,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF)! The fund will help Funny Women face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure a sustainable future in which the team can continue to run and develop the Funny Women Awards programme and support our community outreach activity.
Funny Women is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
Founded by Lynne Parker in 2002 in a bid to champion women in comedy, Funny Women has expanded to include a national annual competition with numerous categories, a website, workshops, live comedy shows, and more, all combining to create a thriving community. Last year Funny Women became a CIC to reflect the direction we have taken.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”
Lynne Parker said: “This is true affirmation for all the hard work our team have put in over the last six months to ensure that the 2020 Funny Women Awards took place and create a sustainable outreach programme for our community. Without this funding we would have been facing an uncertain future. I am also delighted to see comedy recognised as a significant cultural indicator – never have we needed humour and laughter so much.”