Arts funding

Hampshire Culture Trust has said the closure of multiple museums and arts venues across the county is “inevitable” if funding cuts proposed by Hampshire County Council go ahead.

The council, which is the trust’s largest funder at £2.5m annually, has proposed cutting its funding by almost 50% as part of a recent budget review.

The trust operates museums, art galleries and arts centres that attract 600,000 visitors anually and is responsible for 2.5m museum objects.

A council spokesperson told local press the council is facing an estimated budget shortfall of £132m by April 2025.

“With such major budget constraints, we are having to consider very carefully how we can close this funding gap in future and regrettably, some very tough decisions are now needed on what the authority can and cannot continue to do in future.”

Paul Sapwell, Hampshire Cultural Trust Chief Executive, said the trust has huge sympathy for the council’s position but urged for consideration of whether the reduction is proportionate.

“We want to talk about the size of the reduction, the timescales of which they want to make that reduction, what those consequences would look like, and whether there are opportunities to mitigate that reduction through greater partnership to mutual benefit,” Sapwell added.

“Future venue closures across the county will be inevitable if a cut of this scale is agreed. We believe a better solution can be found and that the trust can have a positive future, although tough decisions will need to be made.

“We believe a solution exists and we want to work with the County Council to find it.”

An independent survey commissioned by Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) has found widespread support for continued and increased investment in the arts.

The Arts Council’s General Population Survey, conducted between May and June this year, found 79% of respondents supported public investment in arts and culture organisations, while 70% agreed with public investment in individual artists.

Over half (58%) of respondents said they would vote for a political candidate who advocated for increased spending on arts and culture. 

In comparison, 9% said they would vote against, while 33% were undecided.

Karly Greene, ACNI’s Director of Strategic Development, said the survey “shows strong support for the arts”.

“It clearly demonstrates the value which the public places on continued and increased investment in the arts infrastructure, for the benefit of our economy, tourism, education and personal health and wellbeing.”

The survey also found more people are attending arts events in Northern Ireland than at the time the last survey took place in 2019-2020.

Almost three-quarters (74%) of respondents said they had attended an arts activity or event in the past 12 months, compared to 68% at the time of the last survey.

Three of the country's most prominent cultural organisations have urged Birmingham City Council not to sell off its “precious” heritage assets to rescue itself from insolvency.

The move comes after the local authority announced it was facing a budget shortfall of £87.4m for 2023-24, rising to £164.8m for 2024-25, stemming in part from a historic equal pay claim bill. The council issued a section 114 notice last month, effectively declaring itself bankrupt and leading to speculation that cultural institutions across the city will be sold at a cut price to meet the current deficit. 

In a joint letter, Historic England, Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund have called on the government commissioners soon to be in charge of the day-to-day running of the council to ensure that the city’s heritage assets and cultural organisations are “preserved and prioritised”.

Referencing institutions across the city, including the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Aston Hall and Symphony Hall, the letter called the sites “precious, publicly owned places” that should be saved as “key drivers of economic regeneration” rather than being seen as a drain on resources.

The letter said: “As the process of balancing the council’s books begins, local communities are rightly concerned about the fate of publicly owned historic places and buildings and arts and culture venues. Birmingham’s financial reconstruction must not come at the cost of its priceless heritage.”

Neil Mendoza, Chair of Historic England, said: “Cultural and heritage assets are incredibly precious and important parts of communities. They’re not things to be bought and sold.

“This is a serious situation, and heritage and community considerations need to be taken into account as well as the obvious legal ones. People in Birmingham are really upset at the idea these things might even be considered as assets to be sold.”