Outside In

 Local authority arts services which have been contracted out to trusts have shown growth and improvement, and have secured services which would have been at risk, according to a report published by National Association of Local Government Arts Officers (nalgao). ‘Outside In’ examines five alternative models of contracting out local authority arts: partially contracted out service; fully contracted out service; external management contract; a formal or informal service model shared among a number of authorities; and an independent voluntary trust. The report, by Paul Kelly and Rick Bond, reveals that while an independent trust is the most time-consuming and complex model, 75% of the trusts that were interviewed showed a growth in the service they could offer. Benefits achieved through contracting out services include financial efficiencies and savings, the ability to raise funds from new sources, operational flexibility and the ability to draw on support from expert board members. However, trust status does not protect services from funding cuts or restructuring, and can carry a heavy administrative burden. Nalgao Chair Lorna Brown welcomed the report, and said that the organisation would be continuing to examine alternative delivery methods.
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