Frome's Merlin Theatre has reacted to news today (July 6) that the government is to offer a £1.57 billion support package to help protect the futures of UK theatres, galleries, museums and other cultural venues.

The much-loved venue has said:

The news from the DCMS is very welcome indeed. As a nation that is praised and admired the world over for its cultural brilliance this is a much needed light in the darkness of the past weeks. For the arts these weeks that have been very emotional and difficult, particularly those who have already lost their jobs and seen their organisations go into receivership.

We, at the Merlin, have received such support and warmth that we have already been luckier than many. It is heartening to see that such a large amount of money will be made available and our hope, as a theatre sitting outside of the city and with no arts funding, is that it will reach the smaller organisations in the UK.

Of course any money borrowed will have to be repaid and, looking at the statement, it does not address individual artists so as an industry we are not out of the woods even with this very important offering.

As arts-lovers we know that this cannot be just about the individual person or the individual venue and we celebrate the hope this brings; losing our national greats was becoming a terrible possibility but we will now refocus our own efforts as to how we can revive and continue in Frome.

We have an amazing town and are blessed with wonderful venues such as The Cheese and Grain, Cooper Hall and the Memorial as well as the extraordinary Frome Festival and our dearest wish is that this money will be the key to keep us all alive.

We remain baffled as to how the ruling on live performance audiences is so much tougher than on other gatherings. However, the Merlin will be opening soon for socially safe-seated, filmed theatre-streaming plus we are working to provide a programme of outdoor events as soon as legally possible.

In the meantime we wish above all else to thank again the individuals who have wrapped their arms around us by donating an amazing £11,500 in the last few weeks. We would like to express again how these generous donations have made it possible for us to carry on up until now.

Thank you, Frome, for sticking by us.