A RAFT of south west venues and arts groups have been awarded a share of more than £2,000,000 from a fund to help cultural groups hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.

Arts venues, from galleries to concert halls, festivals to theatre groups, have struggled since the onset of the crisis, which has seen venues closed for long periods.

Now, the Government has revealed 1,385 organisations that will receive money from the Cultural Recovery Fund, which totals more than £1.5 billion.

In Somerset, around 17 groups are set to benefit from more than £2 million of funding.

Among them are Arcadia Spectacular Ltd, whose spectacular displays include an area at the Glastonbury Festival, and the Cheese & Grain venue in Frome, which has hosted the likes of the Foo Fighters.

Also awarded funding are the Taunton Theatre Association, which runs the Brewhouse Theatre in the County Town, and the Petherton Arts Trust, which runs the David Hall in South Petherton.

They list of Somerset recipients is:

Bridgwater Mercury:

Mendip:

23 Bath Street - £86,246

Black Swan Arts - £54,000

Frome Cheese & Grain - £98,000

Strode Theatre - £264,911

The International Music Exchange - £50,000

Sedgemoor:

Midnight mango Ltd - £66,752

Somerset Film and Video Ltd - £52,000

Somerset West and Taunton:

South West Heritage Trust - £198,624

Taunton Theatre Association Ltd - £194,015

North Somerset:

Arcadia Specacular Ltd - £237,826

Koolwaters Agency ltd - £96,548

The Wardrobe Ensemble - £51,600

Trigger - £85,558

Weston-super-Mare Town Council - £323,000

South Somerset:

Art Care Education (ACE) - £50,000

Dedication Stories Ltd - £75,000

Petherton Arts Trust - £51,476