Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition is among 925 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund.

This award will enable us to deliver an exceptional music experience to our local audiences and continue with our far-reaching music education programme delivered throughout our community.

More than £100 million has been awarded to hundreds of cultural organisations across the country including Hastings International Piano in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant of £70,913 by Arts Council England.

Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition is one of the most important classical music competitions in Europe. Our next competition taking place in February and March 2022, has seen a record number of entrants, 360 from 40 countries and will provide employment for orchestral musicians in Hastings in the lead up to and throughout our competition.

The third round of funding will support organisations from all corners of the sector as they deal with ongoing reopening challenges, ensuring they can thrive in better times ahead.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

“Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from. Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.”

Over £1.2 billion has already been awarded from the unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, supporting around 5000 individual organisations and sites across the country ranging from local museums to West End theatres, grassroots music venues to festivals, and organisations in the cultural and heritage supply-chains.

Ian Roberts, Managing Director of Hastings International Piano said:

“We are delighted to have been supported with this round of funding from Arts Council England. Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition is an extremely important part of the cultural landscape of the South Coast of England and we are proud of both the world-class audience experiences we provide our community and the exceptional educational opportunities we create throughout our region’s schools. This much needed funding enables our organisation to continue to present this programme throughout the coming months, leading to the next edition of the competition in February and March.

On behalf of the trustees and our dedicated team, we want to thank the Arts Council and DCMS for making this award, which will allow us to continue with our much-anticipated calendar of events.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:

“This continued investment from the Government on an unprecedented scale means our theatres, galleries, music venues, museums and arts centres can carry on playing their part in bringing visitors back to our high streets, helping to drive economic growth, boosting community pride and promoting good health. It’s a massive vote of confidence in the role our cultural organisations play in helping us all to lead happier lives”.