Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support rural (a) arts venues, (b) museums and (c) community centres in West Dorset constituency.

After 14 years of indifference and cultural vandalism, this government is committed to making sure that arts and cultural activities will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few.

Local Authorities are one of the largest funders of arts and culture in England, and DCMS will continue to work with local partners to collectively champion the benefits that the arts can bring. The government also supports the arts through Arts Council England (ACE). They play a hugely important role in developing the arts in England and are also responsible for funding and promoting the arts. ACE’s open funding programme, National Lottery Project Grants, is currently accessible to organisations and individuals across the country, including those in West Dorset. This programme provides over £100 million of support annually to individuals and organisations.

DCMS has responsibility for government’s work with Civil Society, including voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSEs), which often run community centres and hubs. We are supporting VCSEs with their financial viability by delivering grant programmes, growing the social investment market and through the activities and services delivered by our Arm’s Length Bodies such as the National Lottery Community Fund.