MotoFest Coventry receives Government grant to prepare for a Covid Secure 2021 automotive festival

Almost 450 heritage organisations in England, including MotoFest Coventry have been awarded cash from the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage.

This financial boost from the government, thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund will help MotoFest Coventry and many more projects across the country through the coronavirus pandemic.

2020 has been a difficult year for all events and heritage organisations. MotoFest Coventry was no exception, with the postponement of their June 2020 automotive-themed, cultural festival.

MotoFest Coventry is one of 433 organisations who will receive a share of £67 million from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to help with costs for operating and recovery.

MotoFest celebrates Coventry’s influence worldwide, past, present and future, on two wheels and four. The weekend long festival mixes live motorsport with heritage vehicle displays, music, food and film.

James Noble, Festival Director said:

“This government funding allows us to start planning for a Covid secure festival in 2021. We are delighted that the government have recognised the important work that MotoFest Coventry does in protecting and showcasing our mobile heritage.”

“MotoFest Coventry is unique in demonstrating the significant role that automotive heritage plays in providing a context for future transport innovation.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

“As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounce back post Covid.”

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive said:

“The funding is an essential lifeline for our heritage and the people who work tirelessly to conserve it for us all, so that we can hand it on to future generations.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund said:

“It is absolutely right that investing in heritage should be a priority during this crisis and this support by Government is crucial.  Heritage creates jobs and economic prosperity, is a major driver for tourism and makes our towns, cities, and rural areas better places to live.  All of this is so important for our wellbeing and will be particularly vital when we start to emerge from this incredibly difficult time.

“Our heritage is still facing a perilous future – we are not out of the woods yet. But this hugely welcome funding from Government, and the money we continue to invest from the National Lottery, has undoubtedly stopped heritage and the organisations that care for it being permanently lost.”

MotoFest Coventry was founded in 2014 and has run annually until the hiatus caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. In 2019, MotoFest had a footfall of 229,000 individuals over the two day festival weekend, making it one of the largest and most important automotive events in the country.