William Eichler 17 December 2024

English councils slash culture spending by 50%

English councils slash culture spending by 50% image
Image: Claudia8c / Shutterstock.com.

Spending on culture, heritage and libraries by English councils has been cut by more than half over the last 15 years, according to new research.

New analysis by the Campaign for the Arts (CFTA) has found that since 2009-10, revenue expenditure on culture has fallen by 50.4% in real terms, from £42.42 to £21.05 per person.

The CFTA also found that per-person spending on museums and galleries has shrunk by 48%, whilst the equivalent library service spend has been cut by 54%.

Jack Gamble, director of the CFTA, said culture funding was ‘critically at risk’ due to pressures on councils’ budgets. Commenting on the research, Cllr Liz Green, chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: ‘Councils remain the biggest public funders of sports and culture services in England, but this report shows the desperate need for them to have the funding they need to continue delivering these services and promote further investment in community services alongside a streamlining of funding pots made available for cultural projects.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Wandsworth NCIL Project Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£36,432 - £44,147
Wandsworth NCIL Project Officer
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Part Time Business Operations Assistant - ACL

Essex County Council
Up to £23344 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Business Operations Assistant - Adult Community LearningPermanent, Part Time£23,344 Per Annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Solent Mitigation Partnership Manager (permanent)

Fareham Borough Council
£61,635 - £70,765 per annum
Would you like to take on a challenging and exciting new role to lead an ambitious programme of environmental mitigation. Fareham, Hampshire / Solent Mitigation Partnership
Recuriter: Fareham Borough Council

Litigation and Court Officer

Mansfield District Council
£33,366 - £37,938 per annum
Are you looking to start 2025 with a new challenge? Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

Principal Cost / Framework Manager

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
£49,764 - £52,805
The Building Design Consultancy is an energetic and forward-thinking group of professionals Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.