The UK government has allocated £650,000 to 43 cinemas in the first awards from their Cultural Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas, set up to help venues cope with the impact of the pandemic. Cinemas are able to apply for ‘Safety Grants’, to help independent venues meet the additional costs of creating a safe and COVID-secure environment for staff and audiences, and ‘Business Sustainability’ grants of up to £200,000 to help stabilise venues as they reopen. Applications to the fund are open until 30 October.