Penarth Nub News has collated a variety of local, professional, perspectives on their reactions to the announcement of emergency money for the creative arts industry.

The UK government announced that the industry would receive £1.57 billion to help protect the future of theatres, galleries and museums. £59m of this will be allocated to Wales.

For the full announcement, you can visit the Gov UK website here.

We spoke to a number of local residents who work in the theatre and arts industry to find out what their thoughts are.

Antonia Collins, Stage Manager and creator of the Bamboo Management Project, said: "This support package sounds like great news for arts venues and hopefully many jobs will be saved because of it.

"However, there are still a huge amount of freelancers who aren't receiving any support and more worryingly it seems that shows won't be able to open until next year now. The theatre industry will be changed forever"

Freelance Stage Manager and Theatre Technician Tomos Derrick said: ''I am very thankful for the support package to help my industry recover even after a long fight to get it.

"My concern comes from what happens next. We can now keep venues open for longer but when we will we actually hold live performances again we don't know. Without even an estimate of when we can reopen we aren't out of the woods yet.''

Stephen Doughty, the MP for Penarth and Cardiff South, has been very vocal about the importance of funding for those in the creative arts industry, especially in relation to those in his constituency. Today he spoke at the UK Treasury about the issues. He said: ''Like many other Members across the House, I've met with excluded UK this morning and many of those, particularly in the creative industries, freelancers, who've fallen between the gaps of the different Government schemes.

"The package that's been announced for the creative industries is welcome, but what is the Government going to do to support those many thousands of people including in Cardiff South and Penarth who've fallen between the gaps working in the creative industries?"

On his social media, he has also encouraged individuals struggling locally in our theatre industry to spread the word about Theatre Artists Fund which has emergency grants available supported by Netflix.

Yvonne Murphy, Artistic director & executive producer at Omidaze Productions and Penarth Town Councillor, Tweeted: ''Thank you to all who signed and all who worked so hard to finally get a result many many weeks after our European counterparts. Better late than never though and very welcome investment and help.

"Thank you Rishi Sunak and the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for recognising the value of arts and culture as "the beating heart" of the UK & thank you Jo Stevens and all who have worked so hard to lobby for this."

When Culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced the package [July 5] he said: "Our arts and culture are the soul of our nation. They make our country great and are the linchpin of our world-beating and fast-growing creative industries.

"I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations. Today we are announcing a huge support package of immediate funding to tackle the funding crisis they face. I said we would not let the arts down, and this massive investment shows our level of commitment."

The full details of how the money will be allocated are yet to be announced.