CULTURAL venues in Whitchurch and Wem are set to receive thousands of pounds worth of government grants aimed at securing the arts.

Percy's Cafe in Whitchurch and Wem Town Hall are to be awarded up to £21,500 and £41,500 respectively from the Cultural Recovery fund.

The fund has been put together by the Arts Council England to allow the government to respond to the changing public health picture.

With more than 70 per cent of funding going outside of London, the government hope it will help organisations across the country as they welcome back visitors and return to normal operating models in the months ahead.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced details of over 2,700 organisations being offered nearly £400 million in grants and loans to help the culture and heritage sector reopen and recover.

This brings the Government's total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural and heritage organisations and sites.

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.