Organisations representing local government have joined forces to form a new National Alliance for Cultural Services.
The alliance said it wanted a ‘fresh approach’ to sustain culture services as councils budgets face mounting pressure, particularly in social care and homelessness services.
It brings together the Local Government Association, the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA), Key Cities, Core Cities UK, the County Councils Network, the District Councils’ Network, London Councils and the Rural Services Network.
The alliance said it would offer a point of contact for consultation with those who run cultural services, inform debate on funding and governance, and support councils to deliver the services.
The chair of the alliance, Val Birchall, representing the CLOA, said: ‘We believe in the value of culture in ensuring thriving places and communities and are concerned that action is taken now to secure a sustainable future for these services.’