We are delighted to report that The Cartoon Museum has been awarded a grant of £96,000 by DCMS and Arts Council England as part of the Cultural Recovery Fund. The funding will support the museum to combat the severe financial threat resulting from the museum’s closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, deliver two exciting new exhibitions ready for the reopening of the Museum, and deliver an exciting new programme of events and projects.

The Cartoon Museum temporarily closed on 18 March 2020, and reopened for 7 weeks from September until lockdown in November. It has remained closed since then. As an independent museum, with no regular government or local council support – and where 75% of annual income stream is from admissions, events, shop, and venue hire – the lengthy closure posed a serious threat to the existence and future of the museum. During 2020 the museum saw incredible fundraising support from Friends, supporters and the cartooning and comics community. With the support of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund the museum can continue its recovery from the effects of the pandemic, and plan to reopen and welcome back visitors in May as part of the government’s road out of lockdown.

Director Joe Sullivan said: “We are incredibly thankful to receive support from DCMS and Arts Council England during this a difficult time. Their support will continue our road to recovery, and allow us to develop exciting new exhibitions, events and activities ready for our reopening. We look forward to welcoming back visitors to see our unique, nationally-important collection of British cartoons, comics and caricatures in person as soon as is possible.”