Labour commits £64m of levelling-up funding for UK culture projects

The government has confirmed £64m funding for nine UK culture projects, despite warning in its Autumn Budget that it was “minded to withdraw” the support previously earmarked by the Conservatives.

Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt originally promised financing for the organisations in the Spring Budget 2024 as part of £100m of levelling-up funding for culture projects, subject to business cases.

However, in October, his successor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget stated that to ensure investment was focused on “the growth mission”, the government was “minded to” cancel any unfunded levelling-up culture and capital projects, as well as culture and inward investment funding for the West Midlands.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) – previously the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – has now guaranteed that nine UK culture projects will receive the previously-pledged support, which it said would help drive growth by creating jobs and, in some cases, building new homes.

Generating economic growth

Among those with funding confirmed is the National Railway Museum in York, which will receive £15m towards the construction of a new building with visitor facilities.

MHCLG highlighted that this was part of a wider, mixed-use regeneration scheme in York, estimating it could create thousands of homes, work and retail spaces, and generate more than 6,000 new jobs and £1.6bn in economic value.

In Leeds, £10m has been approved for the development of Temple Works, a derelict Grade I listed building which will become the home of the British Library North, as well as £5m for the city’s National Poetry Centre in Leeds that will renovate a redundant Grade II listed building to create a national headquarters for poetry.

Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum will receive £10m for expansion and maintenance while City Centre Cultural Gateway in Coventry, which will support the repurposing of the former Ikea building as a cultural attraction housing the Arts Council Collection, will receive £5m.

Three cultural projects in Worcester to provide cultural and public spaces around the Scala arts venue have had £2.3m funding confirmed, for the development of a co-working space, the addition of events and exhibitions space in the Corn Exchange and the creation of a social space for young people.

Other projects, which included a Learning Centre project at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, will now not receive previously-pledged levelling-up for culture funding.

Worcester City Council said that government officials had confirmed the successful projects were chosen because of their advanced nature and the impact on economic growth.

In Scotland, the V&A Dundee is to receive £2.6m to expand and revamp its Scottish Design Galleries while in Wales,  £10m has been confirmed for building upgrades to Venue Cymru in Conwy to create a modern cultural hub.

Also included in the funding announcement is £5m for repair and maintenance of the Newport Transporter Bridge, a key route for visitors to South Wales.

Lobbying Labour

 
Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, where the National Poetry Centre will be located, said he had been lobbying the government not to withdraw the previously-pledged funding.

“I’m delighted that the National Poetry Centre funding has been confirmed in full,” Alex Sobel said.

“When we received the news in the budget that the funding was under review, I started working with [poet laureate] Simon Armitage and the National Poetry Centre straight away to lobby the government to secure the funding.”

Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, which supports the project, also welcomed the confirmation of funding, adding that the development will be “transformative” for Leeds and “significantly boost the economy”.

Tom Collins, MP for Worcester, noted that despite the city receiving less than was previously promised, it had been “a huge team effort to save any of this funding”.

“To have received any of this funding at all is a real win for Worcester, and to see the Scala Project backed in this way is extremely good news,” said Collins.

Lynn Denham, Worcester City Council Leader, added, “We recognise that the government is in a very difficult financial position and that tough decisions were made.

“I understand that this news will come as a disappointment to those involved with projects which were not awarded Levelling-Up money.

‘More tourism, more growth and more money’

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Our plan for change promises growth for every region and I’ve seen first-hand how these projects are igniting growth in their communities.

“Through investing in these critical cultural projects, we can empower both local leaders and people to really tap into their potential and celebrate everything their home town has to offer. This means more tourism, more growth and more money in people’s pockets.” 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added: “Everyone across the country should be able to access arts and culture in the place they call home.

“This support will empower our cultural organisations to continue playing an essential role in developing skills, talent and high-quality careers in every corner of the UK.”