Arts Funding in North-East England

Earl of Clancarty Excerpts

Wednesday 28th November 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[The Earl of Clancarty]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Newcastle City Council’s plans to remove funding for the arts, what plans they have to safeguard arts funding in north-east England.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

Local authorities have to make difficult decisions on behalf of local taxpayers about how to deploy their budget. Sustained investment in culture has made Newcastle a centre of culture, contributing to the regional economy and quality of life. This Government are working hard to safeguard our arts infrastructure in a difficult spending review settlement where we have limited cuts to protect front-line organisations. We have increased the arts’ share of lottery proceeds from 16% to 20% and invested £100 million in helping arts organisations increase their fundraising capability, including organisations in the north-east.

[The Earl of Clancarty]

My Lords, do the Government accept that local authority funding of the arts, which has no statutory provision and is irreplaceable, is at best a hugely effective, proven means of providing arts services throughout the country and a significant factor in regional regeneration and the national economy? Witness the support given to Tyneside’s Live Theatre, which premiered “The Pitmen Painters” which went on to international success. When will the Government understand that such funding of the arts is not an add-on to be then easily removed at a stroke, but an important and necessary stimulus to the nation’s financial as well as creative growth?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I applaud the noble Earl’s tenacity in again raising protection of the arts. He is right to do so, against continuing challenging economic conditions and particularly with his focus on Newcastle. Newcastle City Council’s plans are still consultative, and it will be up to local taxpayers to give a response. The Arts Council, which already supports 42 out of the 700 national portfolio organisations in the north-east, is working closely with Newcastle City Council to achieve a positive outcome. Finally, it is encouraging to report from the recent annual local authority arts survey that, contrary to adverse publicity, there is some stabilisation of local arts spending. For the 2012-13 year, the budgets reflect an average of £384,900 per local authority compared with £381,600 for 2011-12.