The Almeida Theatre [Robin Fisher]

A MULTI-MILLION pound funding scheme announced its second year of financial allocations on Wednesday – with the Almeida Theatre being one of those to score big in the national arts lottery.

As part of the Arts Council England programme of funding – which drew criticism in its inaugural year last year due to the nature of its winners and losers – the Upper Street institution was one of almost 1,000 organisations to receive a share of a £446million pot, with a grant of £385,000.

The money comes from government and National Lottery funding.

The scheme was launched last year, and is due to run until 2026, with a target of sharing Arts Council money more widely across Britain. One of its stated aims was to decentralise funding away from London – with last year’s big loser, English National Opera, launching a petition to reverse what some organisations saw as cuts.

But Sir Nicholas Serota, Arts Council England chair, said the increase in funding to other areas would “help ignite creativity across the country”.

Sir Nicholas, who used to be director at the Tate and once studied at the Courtauld Institute in King’s Cross, said the funding represented “an investment in our future” despite the “economic pressures” facing the arts industry as a whole.

“In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent,” he added.

The Almeida is a 325-seat theatre that has seen its plays win awards and transfer to the West End. It has two young company groups as well as offering £5 tickets for 25-year-olds and under.

It plans to spend the cash on upgrading its rehearsal rooms and offices to ensure the business remains sustainable.

The Postal Museum in Clerkenwell, was granted £400,000. The award-winning museum in Phoenix Place charts the 500-year history of postal communication and how it has shaped the world today, as well as being home to Mail Rail, London’s hidden underground railway. The money will go towards making the Mail Rail more inclusive for those currently unable to ride, as well as making the museum more environmentally sustainable.

Another winner was London’s oldest symphony orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the Barbican and is based at St Luke’s in Old Street.

It has been granted £650,000 to transform the sound and recording facilities. Lighting will be improved and a new mezza­nine level will also be created.