ACE offers ‘guidance’ to funded organisations about how to react to death of Queen

National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) and Major Partner Museums (MPMs) are advised to suspend celebratory activities and make an expression of sorrow in the event of a death of a senior member of the Royal Family, in extensive guidance issued by Arts Council England (ACE).

The document, seen by AP, offers advice on where to find the news and how to respond to it:

• When telling staff, by “offering opportunities for everyone to come together and reflect”;
• When telling audiences, by considering whether to stop and make an announcement in the middle of a performance;
• When making external communications, by issuing a formal announcement which would “usually take the form of an expression of sorrow”;
• When considering further steps, by hosting a book of condolence in the foyer, flying a flag at half-mast and welcoming people into their venues to watch the funeral together.

In addition, ACE suggests reviewing planned activities to “make sure they still feel appropriate”, such as parties, celebratory occasions, comedy programmes and scheduled tweets.

The document notes that in the event of a ‘Category A’ death – used to describe The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – the Government and the BBC already have procedures in place. But for arts and culture organisations, “there are no prescribed formal processes, procedures or rules to follow.”

Arts organisations are free to select the patrons who would be their ‘Category A’ notables, but ACE says that for most organisations, and “certainly those in receipt of public funds”, this will include the senior members of the Royal Family. It goes on to stress that there are very few formal rules to follow and that it is up to the organisations to consider and formulate an appropriate response.

“Internal” only

An email sent to NPOs and MPMs said that due to the “sensitivity” of the guidance, it would not be posted on ACE’s website and was to remain “internal” rather than public.

Recipients of ACE’s Creative People and Places, Grants for the Arts, Strategic Touring fund, or unfunded arts organisations therefore did not receive the advice.

ACE told AP it “issued the guidance to our funded organisations (NPOs and MPMs) to support their planning, because thinking through any potential response now will mean that those organisations are better prepared when or if the time comes.

“The guidance is intended to help them shape their responses and does not dictate any particular course of action – how an organisation decides to consider and then formulate a response is up to them, given the nature of their organisation, their audience and their community.”

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport did not ask ACE to send out the guidance.