Arts cuts to be revealed in the autumn

The Summer Budget 2015, delivered by Chancellor George Osborne this week, has given an indication of the arts cuts to come. Although no specific detail was given about the DCMS settlement, the Chancellor said “no year will see cuts as deep as those required in 2011-12 and 2012-13”. Government departments can expect to share cuts of around £20bn, details of which will be announced in the Spending Review this autumn.

Arts Council England said: “It is too early to predict what this means for DCMS and then Arts Council’s settlement. The Arts Council will continue to make the case for public investment in arts and culture with government across the summer.”

Osborne used his speech to express the government’s support for the Museum of London’s plans to move from London Wall to Smithfield General Mark, and to announce that £250k raised through banking fines will be given to Ludlow Museum for a digitisation project.