Government funding boost for Sussex Archaeological Society

The Sussex Archaeological Society has received a share of the final £35 million emergency support package from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund to help overcome the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since August 2020, the Fund has distributed £1.57 billion to around 5,000 organisations and sites across the country, giving a lifeline to cherished organisations around the country through the pandemic.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport today announced the Sussex Archaeological Society has been awarded almost £200,000 in the final round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to support our work researching and preserving local history and archaeology.

Andrew Edwards, Chief Executive of the Sussex Archaeological Society, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding, which will make a vital contribution to resetting and rebuilding our charitable organisation following the pandemic.

“For more than 175 years we have championed the history and heritage of Sussex, acting as guardians for a range of wonderful sites such as Fishbourne Roman Palace, Lewes Castle and Michelham Priory. The pandemic posed significant challenges to our work. But thanks to the support from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage, we have been able to keep this legacy going and now we look to the future.

“This most recent announcement is a real signal of support in our ambitions moving forward – opening up our amazing historical sites to more visitors, engaging with more people through school and group visits and supporting vital research into the history and heritage of our wonderful county.”

The final round of funding has supported organisations through the latest challenges, in particular those affected by the Omicron variant this winter. It has kept organisations up and running so that they can continue to support jobs and contribute to local economies.

These final awards are also safeguarding precious heritage and regional museums so they can be enjoyed by local communities and visitors long into the future.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “This third and final round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage has provided a vital lifeline to heritage organisations, sites and attractions who have found it challenging to recover from the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic. The £3.1 million awarded by DCMS has helped support the heritage sector as it continues to move forward with plans to open doors to visitors, reinvigorating local areas and contributing to local and national tourism and economy.”

Arts Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “Being cut off from them during lockdown has underlined what a vital role cultural organisations play in their community up and down the country. The Government stood by them in the pandemic, and is determined that they should remain open and accessible to everyone – now and for generations to come.

“I am very proud of the Culture Recovery Fund and the lifeline it has provided for cherished organisations in every part of the country.”

Find out more about the Culture Recovery Fund and Here For Culture campaign.