UK doubles emergency arts funding to £60 million amid Omicron crisis

The UK government has doubled emergency arts funding to £60 million through the Culture Recovery Fund, allocating an additional £30 million to museums, cinemas, theatres, and cultural sites across the country. The measure was approved by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and administered by Arts Council England. Applications are open until January 18, with grants ranging from £25,000 to £3 million, subject to limits for organizations that previously received funding. Chancellor Rishi Sunak stated the funding supports the sector during the difficult Omicron wave, while Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries urged vaccination as the best protection. The move follows Germany's October support for Art Cologne, which offered rent discounts to participating galleries.