Policy

Culture workers are staging protests today (14 November) at Arts Council England (ACE) offices in Manchester and London, demanding the reversal of funding cuts to organisations across the country.

Organised by Equity, the performing arts and entertainment trade union, letters will be delivered to both ACE offices demanding the reversal of cuts.

Through ACE's Investment Programme for 2023-26 a total of 990 arts and culture organisations will make up the National Portfolio for the next three years receiving a total of £446m a year between them.

But as part of the government's levelling up agenda the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport instructed ACE to ensure that more of the money it invests goes outside of the capital, with funding for London being cut by 15%. There were also cuts to funding for many organisations across the country.

Those affected include the English National Opera (ENO), Oldham Coliseum, Donmar Warehouse, The Watermill Theatre, Hampstead Theatre and the Gate Theatre.

Paul Fleming, Equity General Secretary, said: “Far from levelling up, these cuts are a nakedly political attack and only serve to make culture in the UK more elitist. 

"Funding has been taken away from organisations such as the ENO, the Gate Theatre and Donmar Warehouse which use union agreements, engage substantial numbers of members, and offer decent terms and conditions. 

"What’s more, the overwhelming majority of 100% cuts across the arts fall outside of London and include unjustified attacks on Oldham Coliseum and The Watermill in Newbury, to name just two, while culture funding as a whole is down 46% in real terms since 2005.

"We have told the Arts Council that any cut must not harm the workforce – if that can’t be done, it should be reversed. The arts are the lifeblood of our communities and local economies, and access to them across the UK does not exist without good, well-funded jobs and a diverse workforce.”

He said: “Oldham Coliseum Theatre is an important Greater Manchester institution, with a rich history dating back well over 100 years. We are working with Oldham Coliseum, Oldham Council and Arts Council England to see how we can get the best possible outcome for the theatre, its staff and communities the Coliseum serves.”

Labour has said it is intent on backing the UK's creative industries "to the hilt" if it comes to power.

The Stage reports that Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer spoke at a launch event for the Labour Creatives Network, which has been established to help develop the party's policy and manifesto for the next general election.

During the event, held last week, he stressed the importance of the sector to the economy.

In a message to the arts, Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell said: "A Labour government is coming and we will back Britain’s creative industries to the hilt."

Addressing attendees, Starmer went on to say: "What you do is so important to the fairer, greener, more dynamic country I know we can become. 

"There isn’t really a debate about this – not a credible one. The reasons are perfectly clear – £178 billion worth of growth every year, £50 billion worth of exports, two million jobs, 750,000 businesses."

“Britain is a creative industries superpower around the world – other countries look at your strength with envy.”

The Labour Creatives Network aims to bring together artists who share Labour values. Attendees included actor Sir Patrick Stewart, TV producer and writer Steven Moffat, comedian Tracey Ullman, and chair of the Creative Industries Council Sir Peter Bazalgette.