London’s galleries, theatres and other cultural organisations get a disproportionate share of England’s arts funding, a group of MPs has said.
There is a “clear funding imbalance” in favour of the capital, a report by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee has concluded.
Arts Council England should “restore some balance” across the country and do so with “greater urgency”, it said.
The Arts Council distributes £600m of taxpayers’ and Lottery money per year.
The committee’s conclusions come a year after a separate report said arts funding from central government amounted to £69 per head in London and £4.60 elsewhere in England.
‘Disproportionate share’
“London has long received a disproportionate share of arts funding, something which even the Arts Council acknowledges,” the select committee’s report said.
“To a limited extent this reflects London’s position as the capital city and a world cultural centre.
“However, there remains a clear funding imbalance in favour of London at the expense of taxpayers and lottery players in other parts of the country.
“The Arts Council is well-placed to restore some balance. It must do so with greater urgency if it is to realise its declared ambition to engineer the provision of great art and culture for everyone.”
Arts Council England chairman Sir Peter Bazalgette, who has said the body has been redressing the balance in recent years, said he was pleased the committee “has acknowledged that we are tackling this”.
‘Shrinking income’
The government’s grant to the Arts Council has dropped by 33% since 2010.
Sir Peter welcomed the committee’s suggestion that any future increase in the government grant should be spent outside the M25.
“We share the committee’s desire for …read more
Source:: BBC Entertainment
