Vaizey defends Arts Council takeover of MLA
Rebecca Atkinson, 01.12.2010
Minister for culture grilled on ACE at inquiry into arts and heritage funding
Ed Vaizey has said he is confident that Arts Council England (ACE) has the right level of funding and expertise to take on the functions of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
Giving evidence at the fifth session of the Select Committee inquiry into funding for arts and heritage, the culture minister defended ACE against criticism that it has been handed too much responsibility.
Members of the committee questioned whether an arm's length organisation like ACE should have the power to decide which organisations receive funding and which do not – especially given concerns that it has “wasted” funding in the past.
But Vaizey said ACE was a "very effective" partner to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and was "bending over backwards" to change and be more efficient.
However, he acknowledged that more discussions were needed next year about the distinction between arm's length principles and government policies.
He added: “I am confident that ACE has enough funding [and] people with the right ability to handle the transition [of incorporating MLA functions]. There is a close relationship between regional museums and regional arts organisations.”
Answering questions about the benefits of taxpayers’ money being used to subsidise the arts, and the coalition government’s proposed happiness index, Vaizey joked he was the minister for happiness and said he’d like to “write a blank cheque to the arts”.
But he added more seriously that he was happy with the level of cuts levied at DCMS in October’s spending review and confident these would not impact frontline services.
“I understand that national museums felt their cut was manageable – [15%] was the kind of figure they were happy to discuss with us in the run-up to the spending review in terms of what could be absorbed,” Vaizey told the committee.
He also announced that the department for culture would publish its plan to encourage philanthropy next week. Although he refused to give any details, he said ACE would play a central role and hinted that it would include specific tax measures.
From January, Parliamentary questions relating to ACE will be included in Hansard rather than answered privately, Vaizey said.
Last week, the Museums Association wrote to Alan Davey, chief executive of ACE, calling for joined-up strategy.
Click here to read the letter
Giving evidence at the fifth session of the Select Committee inquiry into funding for arts and heritage, the culture minister defended ACE against criticism that it has been handed too much responsibility.
Members of the committee questioned whether an arm's length organisation like ACE should have the power to decide which organisations receive funding and which do not – especially given concerns that it has “wasted” funding in the past.
But Vaizey said ACE was a "very effective" partner to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and was "bending over backwards" to change and be more efficient.
However, he acknowledged that more discussions were needed next year about the distinction between arm's length principles and government policies.
He added: “I am confident that ACE has enough funding [and] people with the right ability to handle the transition [of incorporating MLA functions]. There is a close relationship between regional museums and regional arts organisations.”
Answering questions about the benefits of taxpayers’ money being used to subsidise the arts, and the coalition government’s proposed happiness index, Vaizey joked he was the minister for happiness and said he’d like to “write a blank cheque to the arts”.
But he added more seriously that he was happy with the level of cuts levied at DCMS in October’s spending review and confident these would not impact frontline services.
“I understand that national museums felt their cut was manageable – [15%] was the kind of figure they were happy to discuss with us in the run-up to the spending review in terms of what could be absorbed,” Vaizey told the committee.
He also announced that the department for culture would publish its plan to encourage philanthropy next week. Although he refused to give any details, he said ACE would play a central role and hinted that it would include specific tax measures.
From January, Parliamentary questions relating to ACE will be included in Hansard rather than answered privately, Vaizey said.
Last week, the Museums Association wrote to Alan Davey, chief executive of ACE, calling for joined-up strategy.
Click here to read the letter
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