We are delighted and grateful to announce that Reggae Roast has been awarded a grant from the £1.57 billion Arts Council Culture Recovery Fund, which is being used to help mitigate some of the effects of Covid 19 Pandemic on the UK Arts and Culture sector.
 
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today. 
 
Reggae Roast, one of the UK’s leading Reggae organisations has been an important part of the cultural landscape for over a decade giving a platform and voice to many marginalised artists and creatives. The London based organisation has been facing considerable uncertainty due to the impact of prolonged venues closures as well as cancelled events & performances. Thanks to this support from the Arts Council, Reggae Roast is now able to continue its work putting putting on events, releasing music and supporting artists & creatives along the way, providing an outlet for this wonderful music we all love.

Reggae Roast would like to thank the Government for recognising that culture creates jobs, supports livelihoods, and brings joy to the community.

Reggae Roast is looking forward to the 26th of June when they can once again open their doors for their Album Launch Party, originally planned for May 2020, but was regrettably cancelled with just weeks to go as the scale of the Pandemic emerged.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: 
 
“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced. 

Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: 
 
“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.   
 
We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.” 
 
The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.   

James Harper from Reggae Roast said:

"Thanks so much to the Arts Council for recognising the work that we have done over the years and the importance of our events within the cultural landscape.

We believe Reggae music is unifying & therapeutic force for good within our communities and this fund will enable us to continue our mission to showcase the best UK talent and give a voice and platform to otherwise marginalised artists and creatives."

Notes to Editors 
 
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk 
 
Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies administering the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19. 
 
At the Budget, the Chancellor announced the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund would be boosted with a further £300 million investment. Details of this third round of funding will be announced soon.