Efforts begin to save cultural projects at risk from £100m cut

Figures behind a range of cultural projects facing the loss of millions of pounds of levelling-up funding are scoping out opportunities to keep them alive.

As part of last week’s budget, it was announced that more than £100m of cultural funding, announced earlier this year by the previous Conservative government for projects across the UK, is likely to be withdrawn.

“To ensure investment is focused on the growth mission, the government is minded to cancel unfunded Levelling Up Culture and Capital Projects, and the West Midlands culture and inward investment funding, that were announced at Spring Budget 2024, but will consult with potential funding recipients before making a final decision,” budget documents state.

Among those set to miss out is the National Railway Museum in York.

According to Museums + Heritage Advisor, it had intended to use its £15m grant to fund roughly 16% of its £95m masterplan to extend and improve both its York museum and its sister site Locomotion in County Durham.

A spokesperson for the Science Museum Group, which operates the National Railway Museum, said it will use the consultation process announced by government to push the case for the investment being retained.

“We recognise the difficult settlement faced by all [government] departments,” the spokesperson said.

“We are working constructively with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and our sponsor, [the] Department for Culture Media and Sport, to outline the enormous value of this investment in boosting the local economy and creating new jobs as part of one of the largest brownfield regeneration projects in the UK, York Central.”

Meanwhile, The British Library has said it is exploring a range of options to advance its British Library North project – which had been allocated £10m to establish a new outpost for the British Library in Leeds.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin told the BBC that while doubts over the future of the £10m grant was disappointing, she does not think the project is “dead in the water”.

Ms Brabin said she will do “everything in her power” to deliver it, adding that other funding options could come from from partnerships, Leeds City Council and her office, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

“We still have devolved funding committed to British Library North and I will continue to update as we find alternative solutions to bringing the project forward,” she said.

‘Committed to future transformation’

The V&A Dundee has said it remains hopeful of conducting transformation works in the future after the £2.6m it was due to receive to remodel and extend its Scottish Design Galleries was thrown into doubt.

“This decision comes as the new UK government is making significant savings,” spokesperson said.

“A consultation period with all impacted projects will now take place and we remain committed to transforming these galleries in the future.”

National Museums Liverpool had been set to benefit from £10m towards its waterfront transformation project at Royal Albert Docks.

In a statement it will aim to persuade government of the international significance of the project.

“National Museums Liverpool remains committed to this important and deeply impactful project, which has been years in development and has grown with the collaboration and guidance of many, including our community stakeholders,” the statement said.

Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said she intends to meet ministers to discuss the matter , adding she was “very concerned” by the news.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “While the budget announcement on the future of this funding might seem concerning on the face of it, we are aware that there will be a proper consultation, where we can make the case to government that it is an important investment, both for the region and the wider UK economy.”