During the multiple lockdown periods of the Covid pandemic, cinemas had to comply with a series of new restrictions
often with little notice. Venues in the arts sector had to either close or operate at significantly reduced capacity, thereby
incurring losses. On 5 July 2020, the then Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
(DCMS) announced a £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund rescue package for cultural organisations to help the sector
survive, and when possible, reopen. The Rio Cinema successfully applied during all three rounds of the Culture
Recovery Fund providing us with enough funds to retain all staff, invest in necessary equipment upgrades and cover
losses for reduced capacity and closure.
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