Bridgemary Library Scores Big Cash Boost!
Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, has cheered the news that Bridgemary Library is set to receive vital funding from the Conservative Government’s Cultural Investment Fund. The library will pocket part of £150,031 awarded to Hampshire Libraries through the Libraries Improvement Fund.
£20.5 Million Pours into Library Upgrades Nationwide
The Libraries Improvement Fund, totalling £20.5 million, is transforming library services across the UK. It’s the second round of funding, with 25 projects already grabbing £5 million in the first round. The fund focuses on upgrading library buildings and boosting digital infrastructure to keep services relevant and accessible.
Government’s Culture Cash Powering Local Communities
The wider Cultural Investment Fund, launched in 2019, boasts over £200 million split into three streams – Cultural Development, Libraries Improvement, and Museum Estate and Development. Its mission? To level up culture access, support local venues, and spark economic growth.
This latest boost follows the Spring Budget’s extension of tax reliefs for theatres, orchestras, galleries, and museums for another two years – keeping Britain’s cultural scene buzzing and attracting fresh talent and investment.
Local Voices Praise the Funding Win
“I am delighted to see such a large investment being made to Bridgemary Library,” said Dame Caroline Dinenage. “This will go a long way to safeguarding access to culture and the library’s services for years to come. “I know that libraries are cherished hubs of the community, and I am pleased that the government is supporting them to adapt to the new digital landscape. This funding injection will go a long way to reinvigorating and encouraging access to library services in the constituency.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer added: “This investment will help to level up access to arts and culture for everyone, no matter where they live. >“Culture helps us create lifelong memories with our families and friends, provides entertainment and joy, and allows us to explore the world around us in new and exciting ways. It can also boost tourism, support local businesses and drive local economic growth. >This funding will support brilliant arts organisations to upgrade their venues and create new projects that will be at the heart of their communities.”
