Public urged to report council culture cuts as research reveals 50% drop in arts spending

The Campaign for the Arts (CFTA) has launched an open call for information about new proposed cuts to arts funding as local authorities set their budgets for next year.

Local authorities are the largest single public funder of culture in England, but CFTA’s most recent analysis shows local authority culture spend per head in England has been cut by more than 50% over the last 14 years.

According to CFTA, since 2009-10, revenue expenditure on culture, heritage and libraries in England has fallen in real terms from £42.42 to £21.05 per person, a drop of 50.4%.

Per-person spending on museums and galleries has been reduced by 48%. For library services, the drop is even greater, at 54%.

CFTA’s research indicates that the downward trend in funding is continuing, with a 4% reduction in per-person cultural spending between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

The group is urging the public to share information about plans to cut culture spending in their area to help build a national picture of the scale of the problem.

The launch of its open call coincides with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s announcement that a forthcoming review of Arts Council England will examine the funding body’s role in the wider arts and culture ecosystem.

It also follows plans announced by the government this week for a major overhaul of local authorities in England, which could see smaller district and larger county councils merged to form unitary authorities. 

‘A worrying situation’

Councillor Liz Green, chair of the Local Government Authority’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “This analysis highlights the worrying situation local government finds itself in, where rising demand for statutory support is leaving less funding for cultural and sporting services.”

She added: “Councils remain the biggest public funders of sports and culture services in England, but this report shows the desperate need for them to have the funding they need to continue delivering these services and promote further investment in community services, alongside a streamlining of funding pots made available for cultural projects.”

Jack Gamble, director of the Campaign for the Arts, said: “Local access to the arts depends on local funding, but that funding continues to be critically at risk due to the pressures on councils’ budgets. 

“We urge both the UK Government and local authority leaders to ensure that these opportunities are protected and available to everyone, not just the privileged few.”