Urgent financial support is needed for theatres, museums and
leisure centres facing an ‘existential threat’ from the
cost-of-living crisis, MPs say today in a Report warning that the
Government needs to tackle geographical funding imbalances for
arts and culture if it is to fulfil its commitment to ‘levelling
up’ the UK.
The Report from the DCMS Committee follows an inquiry looking at
whether funding for cultural initiatives has been reaching areas
that historically have missed out, and the role creative talent
and businesses could play in revitalising public spaces
post-pandemic.
Amid the cost-of-living crisis, the Committee calls on the
Government to urgently bring forward targeted support, such as
through VAT or business rate relief, to cultural, sporting and
media organisations to prevent ‘exacerbating long-term scarring’
of those already hit hard by Covid-19.
The Committee also argues that there should be a new model of
funding to ensure grassroots organisations do not miss out in
areas where there are national cultural institutions, which often
receive the most significant levels of public cash. Major
institutions should also have a duty to open themselves up to
audiences across the country and support grassroots
organisations, while the Government should better incentivise
private investment.
The Report also urges the Government to address skills shortages
in the creative sector by supporting schools that provide
vocational, industry-backed qualifications and says funding
bodies should press the industry to improve working practices and
conditions.
DCMS Committee Chair said: “Local
museums, galleries and theatres have a huge role to play in
regenerating high streets and town centres away from the big
cities, but they run up against pervasive and persistent barriers
to their success. With spiralling energy bills exacerbating the
scars inflicted by the pandemic, the Government must come forward
with targeted support to ensure local organisations are not hit
by a wave of closures at a time when art and culture is more
important than ever in providing people with an escape from the
harsh realities of the cost-of-living crisis.
In the longer term, a new model of funding is needed which
stops cash for culture being hoovered up by all the big players
and instead recognises the importance of the grassroots and
opening up world-class exhibitions and performances to new
regional audiences. People should be put at the centre of efforts
to level up the country through culture. The Government’s renewed
focus on skills and vocational education must include support for
industry-backed schools, training and apprenticeships. This will
both help to tackle the chronic skills shortage inflicting the
sector and provide a ladder of opportunity for people across the
country.”
Main conclusions and recommendations
Cultural placemaking – the role of arts, culture and
heritage in shaping the places where we live
- Funding and support for arts and culture emulates the broader
geographic disparities across the UK. Outside London and the
South East, there are areas still not receiving the necessary
investment to support their own local and world-class
institutions while, in London and the South East, grassroots
organisations in deprived areas are experiencing serious
financial risk due to a handful of organisations receiving
significant proportions of public funding.
- The Government and Arts Council England should separate
funding for national institutions from local and regional
institutions and ensure that national cultural organisations have
different conditions of public funding, including increasing
access to nationwide audiences and supporting grassroots
organisations.
- The Government should consider how to support arts and
culture through means other than one-off funds, such as
sustainable public funding settlements and by encouraging private
investment.
- The cost-of-living crisis poses an existential threat to the
cultural, sporting and media organisations at the centre of
communities. The Government must bring forward targeted support,
such as through VAT or business rate relief.
Participation and social mobility
- It is a matter of serious concern that despite the UK’s
status as home to successful, world-renowned creative industries,
the sector is experiencing a significant and ongoing national
skills shortage.
- Funding bodies, such as the Arts Council and Historic
England, should ensure the sector works to improve working
conditions.
- The Committee is concerned that cultural education is seen as
of lesser importance to the curriculum, feeding negative
perceptions of careers in the creative industries. The Government
should ensure the long-term viability of schools that provide
vocational, industry-backed qualifications.
- The Government should support the development of a network of
hubs providing cultural spaces, workspaces and free, fast
internet access in places most in need of levelling up in order
to modernise library service provision.
