Two of Colchester s best-loved arts institutions have been handed almost £1 million by the Government to help them survive the coronavirus crisis. The Mercury Theatre has secured more than £850,000 to complete the final stages of its £10 million revamp and Colchester Arts Centre will receive £128,000. The theatre has received £864,000 from Arts Council England’s Cultural Capital Kickstart Fund, part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. As a registered charity, the theatre relies on ticket sales, but it has been forced to close throughout the pandemic. Covid-19 also affected the completion date of the theatre’s £10 million Mercury Rising project, leading to additional costs for the redevelopment.