Where there's brass there's cash for Wellingborough Salvation Army record label

A Wellingborough-based record label, and an arm of the Salvation Army, has been awarded a grant of £87,976 in the latest and second round of Government’s Culture Recovery Fund payouts.

Dennington Road-based World of Brass under the name Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL), is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from a share of the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion cash pot.

World of Brass plays an important role in the UK and international brass music scene, regularly working with some of the finest brass musicians in the world - professional and amateur.

Having both a studio in Wellingborough, and also an in-house team for location filming and recording, they are recognised as a top brass in their field.

Nicki Tonge, World of Brass brand manager, said: “We can’t wait to get back out to film and record some of these fantastic brass bands and competitions.

"Like many organisations in similar positions, we’re extremely grateful to Arts Council England for supporting the musical backbone of the country”.

The award will ensure financial stability for the company as it moves out of lockdown and help the organisation recover and reopen.

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

The second round of awards will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, the funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Ms Tonge added: "Competition is at the heart of brass bands, and World of Brass supports many of these events, which sadly have all been cancelled over the last 12 months because of the amateur status of these otherwise elite musical groups.

"Some of these world-recognised contests would have taken place in venues such as the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Royal Albert Hall in London and Sage Gateshead, and the support of World of Brass is integral to the future of these cultural and historical events."

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Our 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."

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.

"We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”