2 April 2021 08:00

Royal Academy of Dance receives further Culture Recovery Fund grant

The RAD has announced today that it is to receive a further £303,000 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, to help its recovery from significant loss of income due to the pandemic. The RAD is one of 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of government grants.

The RAD hosted Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on an official visit to its headquarters in October 2020 when the first grants were announced from the the £1.57 billion. The Culture Secretary saw the RAD's hybrid delivery model for its teacher training programmes, which enabled its students to continue their studies with minimal disruption. 

The RAD has prioritised the importance of mental and physical wellbeing, keeping everyone active through RAD@Home, which has now had nearly 1 million page views. This continues to host weekly online Silver Swans classes for over 55s, dance exercises for all ages, webinars, and content supplied by our members. It also showcases the remarkable resilience and achievements of our teachers, students and communities around the world in the face of unprecedented challenge.

This latest tranche of funding will allow the RAD to maintain momentum in its work to continue to teach the world to dance despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Speaking of the latest award, Oliver Dowden commented:

“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."

Reacting to the news, RAD President, Dame Darcey Bussell said:

“My most sincere thanks to DCMS for their further support of the Royal Academy of Dance through the Culture Recovery Fund. As President, I have seen first-hand the resilience, passion and determination displayed by RAD teachers and students worldwide, in the face of this pandemic. I am so proud of them and of the work that the Academy does to empower and inspire people of all ages, all over the world, through the joy of dance.”

RAD Chief Executive, Luke Rittner, also responded:

“When the pandemic began, no-one could have predicted that 12 months later we would still be in its grip. The Academy has sustained significant losses of income due to the pandemic and whilst there are many positive signs, it will be a slow road back to recovery. We are therefore incredibly grateful, once again, for support from the government through the Cultural Recovery Fund.

The Royal Academy of Dance is synonymous with excellence in dance teaching and training and this Cultural Recovery Fund grant enables us to continue to deliver on our mission to inspire the world to dance, on a local, national and international level. As we prepare to open the doors of our new global headquarters – a new home of dance – it is not only a powerful affirmation of the work that we do, but of the transformative power of dance.”