Local Government and the Arts: the future

Arts Council Chair urges local authorities as arts and culture funding falls.

Sir Peter Bazalgette urged local authorities to work with the Arts Council to back local arts and culture in a speech today at the New Local Government Network Hub in London.

Addressing local authorities and members from local councils from across the country, the Arts Council ‘s Chair said:

“We know you are under pressure. Let’s work together to develop new, creative and innovative solutions to sustain the vital cultural life of our communities. We’re in, if you’re in”.

He also remarked on the positive settlement for national arts funding in the Autumn Statement and the launch of the government’s White Paper for culture – the first of its kind for more than 50 years, which “reaffirms the importance of local authority funding in the national arts ecology.”

Read more on the Arts Council England website