Can two – or even three – live as cheaply as one? Merging seems to be the latest craze, with the English regions grumpily clumping together, and the DCMS (p3) announcing a proposal of marriage between the venerable BFI (b. 1933) and dewy young UKFC (b. 2000). Although it is clearly hoped that the film merger is going to save cash, the main reasoning behind it seems to be that it will create a strong new body which will be better than before. The creation of four super-regions for the arts, however, is largely driven by the Government’s requirement for economies, and any benefits that accrue will be a bonus. To put it another way, Arts Council England cannot pretend that it wanted to do this, whereas the film world can save face by positioning the merger as a positive move. Sounding quite clearly through the cheery positivity of both the BFI and UKFC Chairs is the undertone of worry that their remit and their natures should not change (do they know nothing of marriage?). However, it’s difficult not to imagine that some of the messages of goodwill among our regional office leaders are being made through gritted teeth, as half their number go off to ‘pursue other work’. It’s a trying time. But the arts world has a right and a duty to keep a keen eye on this new arrangement, and insist that it works to the benefit of the sector and not just to prop up the Government’s statistics on saving money. In England, we will have the equivalent of three mini European parliaments, with a Brussels and one or two Strasbourgs in each of the three super-regions, while London (not surprisingly, given the concentration of arts activity there) gets to stay as it is. The new regional leaders are going to have demonstrate very quickly that their loyalties have extended impartially to their new areas of responsibility. Next on the horizon will be the England-wide Grants for the Arts assessment team setting up shop in Manchester (AP189). Streamlining (a new favourite word) could well achieve a desired cut in bureaucracy, but again, it places a heavier responsibility on regional officers to turn out for their team. What would be interesting to know is whether, if new cash suddenly became available, the marriages between the regions would promptly be annulled.
Catherine Rose
Editor