Arts Council boss makes funding plea
By Ian Youngs
Arts reporter
28 May 2015
From the section Entertainment & Arts
The government’s grant to Arts Council England has dropped by 36% since 2010
Arts and culture should be spared further funding cuts as the government seeks to balance the books, the new head of Arts Council England has said.
In his first speech since becoming Arts Council chief executive, Darren Henley said cuts could halt recent progress in cultivating culture around the country.
Speaking in Hull, he argued that the arts made a difference “educationally, socially and economically”.
Arts Council England has had its government grant cut by 36% since 2010.
Chancellor George Osborne is expected to outline £30bn of spending cuts to government departments in his next budget in July.
Mr Henley argued there had been “cultural growth” in cities like Hull, which will be UK City of Culture in 2017, over the last few years.
He also pointed to recent initiatives like music education hubs, tax breaks for theatres and orchestras and investment in venues in Manchester.
Darren Henley said Hull had been a recent ‘success story’
“We appreciate this commitment in the government’s first term,” he said. “But this progress is only sustainable with the long-term commitment of grant in …read more
Source:: BBC Entertainment
