A sustainable multi-year funding settlement is essential for helping local authorities support the arts, council chiefs say as report reveals a £2.4bn culture funding gap.
A new report from the Local Government Association (LGA) argues that greater collaborative work between councils and cultural partners, combined with place-based funding from Government, is crucial for sustaining the ecology of art and culture in the UK.
Entitled Cornerstones of Culture, the report by the LGA’s Independent Commission on Culture and Local Government said that local culture can be used to support mental wellbeing, provide educational opportunity, and boost the economy as part of the recovery from the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.
The report shows that local government invests £1.1bn directly in cultural services each year in England. However, it warned that this funding is under ‘significant strain’ with the gap standing at £2.4bn.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: ‘Culture is so important to our country, from wellbeing and a sense of place in our communities, to economic and education benefits.
‘Local government is the biggest public funder of culture, able to target money at the activities and places that need it most.
‘Our report published today, concluding the excellent work of our independent commission, rightly highlights the need to prioritise this sector and provide a sustainable multi-year funding settlement to local government, along with streamlining the multiple small funding pots made available for cultural projects.’
