A cut to arts funding in this month’s government spending review was seen to inevitable and the scope and timing of the cuts are as generally predicted.

However, the full scale of the effect of the cuts will not be known for a very long time. The sector is more sensitive to the funding debate because it delivers both short term joy and long term personal fulfilment that are hard to measure in fiscal terms. Some people try to justify the arts in the terms of audience engagement or visitor spend, and others point out that our broadcast, film, computer gaming and live arts businesses are key to the economic recovery. Without a strong public sector funding base, the crucible for new ideas may be cracked beyond repair, which could mean the economic recovery will be harder to achieve. Collaboration may well be the key word for the next decade, but we will lose some well known organisations during the coming months.

The sector is caught between rocks and hard places. Arts Council England has less funding, the local development agencies face a grim future, and local councils may be tempted to take a “zero tolerance” approach to arts funding. There is a limit to the number of wealthy individuals and corporate bodies willing to step up to the mark, and so only the fittest, more commercial practitioners will survive. Good quality, professional advice for the often volunteer boards that are tasked to manage this process is important, but is that a luxury in these stringent times?

Keith Arrowsmith
Media Lawyer
Ralli