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Arts leaders relieved at better-than-expected funding agreement Arts leaders relieved at better-than-expected funding agreement
(about 3 hours later)
Arts leaders and museum chiefs have welcomed an unexpectedly good settlement for the sector after George Osborne acknowledged that deep budget cuts would be “a false economy”.Arts leaders and museum chiefs have welcomed an unexpectedly good settlement for the sector after George Osborne acknowledged that deep budget cuts would be “a false economy”.
The chancellor pledged that Arts Council England and national museums and galleries would get the same amount of funding in cash terms in 2019-20 as they do today. The chancellor pledged that Arts Council England (ACE) and national museums and galleries would get the same amount of funding in cash terms in 2019-20 as they do today.
It was a long way from the dramatic cuts that had been widely feared. Sir Peter Bazalgette, the chair of ACE, said: “This is an astonishing settlement for arts and culture.It was a long way from the dramatic cuts that had been widely feared. Sir Peter Bazalgette, the chair of ACE, said: “This is an astonishing settlement for arts and culture.
Related: Autumn statement and spending review – the key points at a glanceRelated: Autumn statement and spending review – the key points at a glance
“This settlement means we can keep up our efforts to ensure everyone, everywhere in England, benefits from Arts Council money. We can continue to invest in children and young people, disadvantaged communities and new talent, as well as hundreds of much-loved arts and cultural institutions.” “This settlement means we can keep up our efforts to ensure everyone, everywhere in England, benefits from arts council money. We can continue to invest in children and young people, disadvantaged communities and new talent, as well as hundreds of much-loved arts and cultural institutions.”
After looking more closely at the detailed figures, ACE said the settlement would amount to “a small increase in cash terms of approximately £10m per annum for the four years up to 2019-20”, which “equals a 5% reduction in real terms”.After looking more closely at the detailed figures, ACE said the settlement would amount to “a small increase in cash terms of approximately £10m per annum for the four years up to 2019-20”, which “equals a 5% reduction in real terms”.
The council and the Creative Industries Federation have lobbied hard to get the message through that public investment in the arts generates money for the wider economy.The council and the Creative Industries Federation have lobbied hard to get the message through that public investment in the arts generates money for the wider economy.
Osborne noted this in his speech, describing the arts as “one of the best investments we can make as a nation”. He said £1bn a year in grants leads to “a quarter of a trillion pounds to the economy – not a bad return”.Osborne noted this in his speech, describing the arts as “one of the best investments we can make as a nation”. He said £1bn a year in grants leads to “a quarter of a trillion pounds to the economy – not a bad return”.
John Kampfner, the federation’s chief executive, called the autumn statement “a strong endorsement from the chancellor of the value of the arts and creative industries, and recognition that the contribution they make to the economy more than repays investment in them”.John Kampfner, the federation’s chief executive, called the autumn statement “a strong endorsement from the chancellor of the value of the arts and creative industries, and recognition that the contribution they make to the economy more than repays investment in them”.
Related: Publicly funded arts bolster the UK economy, study findsRelated: Publicly funded arts bolster the UK economy, study finds
The chancellor also pledged that the UK’s national museums would remain free to enter and tax credits may be created to help them further.The chancellor also pledged that the UK’s national museums would remain free to enter and tax credits may be created to help them further.
Neil McGregor, who stands down as the director of the British Museum next month, said: “We are delighted that the chancellor has recognised the important role that museums and galleries play in the life of the UK and to Britain’s role in the world.”Neil McGregor, who stands down as the director of the British Museum next month, said: “We are delighted that the chancellor has recognised the important role that museums and galleries play in the life of the UK and to Britain’s role in the world.”
Sharon Heal, the director of the Museums Association, said. “His [Osborne’s] decision to protect the Arts Council England budget from further cuts is to be welcomed, as is his decision to preserve free entry to national museums.”Sharon Heal, the director of the Museums Association, said. “His [Osborne’s] decision to protect the Arts Council England budget from further cuts is to be welcomed, as is his decision to preserve free entry to national museums.”
The elephant in what was a pretty happy room is what now happens to local authority funding, as the arts and museums have proved something of a soft target for cash-strapped councils.The elephant in what was a pretty happy room is what now happens to local authority funding, as the arts and museums have proved something of a soft target for cash-strapped councils.
“We remain deeply concerned about the impact of the local authority budget cuts on the UK’s civic museums, and on the huge number of people who visit them,” Heal said.“We remain deeply concerned about the impact of the local authority budget cuts on the UK’s civic museums, and on the huge number of people who visit them,” Heal said.
“Museum closures, job losses and the introduction of charging are happening already. Today’s spending review means that this trend is likely to grow.”“Museum closures, job losses and the introduction of charging are happening already. Today’s spending review means that this trend is likely to grow.”
Those fears were echoed by Stephen Deuchar of the Art Fund charity. He said: “Today’s statement is just the beginning, as it is the forthcoming local authority settlements that will determine the fate of the majority of the UK’s museums and galleries – the hundreds of institutions across the country that are already under-resourced and vulnerable.”Those fears were echoed by Stephen Deuchar of the Art Fund charity. He said: “Today’s statement is just the beginning, as it is the forthcoming local authority settlements that will determine the fate of the majority of the UK’s museums and galleries – the hundreds of institutions across the country that are already under-resourced and vulnerable.”
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He pointed to news from Lancashire that five museums will have to close and the remainder to begin charging. “We must work hard to ensure the survival of free cultural provision on everyone’s doorstep – beyond the protected national museums and galleries.”He pointed to news from Lancashire that five museums will have to close and the remainder to begin charging. “We must work hard to ensure the survival of free cultural provision on everyone’s doorstep – beyond the protected national museums and galleries.”
The autumn statement also included a number of specific cash pledges, including:The autumn statement also included a number of specific cash pledges, including:
Overall, the budget for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, one of Whitehall’s smallest, was cut by 5% and will have to reduce administration costs by 20%.Overall, the budget for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, one of Whitehall’s smallest, was cut by 5% and will have to reduce administration costs by 20%.
There was palpable relief among leaders in the arts sector, many of whom had been badly spooked by talk of funding cuts ranging from 25% to 40%. The situation was not helped by the apparent lateness of the Treasury settlement with the DCMS: it was one of the last departments to settle and arts leaders had no idea what to expect.There was palpable relief among leaders in the arts sector, many of whom had been badly spooked by talk of funding cuts ranging from 25% to 40%. The situation was not helped by the apparent lateness of the Treasury settlement with the DCMS: it was one of the last departments to settle and arts leaders had no idea what to expect.