London boroughs saw the largest cuts in arts and culture spending; 19 per cent between 2010 and 2015.
Posted: 10/03/2022
A new report has revealed a £236m or 17% decline in local authority cultural spending since 2010, with London boroughs seeing the largest cuts in arts and culture spending; 19 per cent between 2010 and 2015. While English local government still spent £1.2 billion on arts and culture in 2014/15, the cuts remain significant and are likely to continue
New Local Government Network (NLGN) set out recent trends in local governments funding for arts and culture and the prospects for the near future. Using Arts Council England figures they also assess the impact that these cuts are having on the viability of the sector, before setting out some ideas for new ways in which local government can continue to support arts and culture even in straitened times such as these.
The report – launched by the Arts Council concluded that while English local government still spent £1.2 billion on arts and culture in 2014/15, the cuts remain significant and are likely to continue. ACE Chair, Sir Peter Bazalgette urged local authorities to work with the Arts Council to back local arts and culture in a speech at the launch of the report Funding Arts and Culture in a time of Austerity.
