The Arts Council England (ACE) has responded angrily to suggestions by the shadow culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, that it is not free from political interference.
Speaking to a gathering of arts leaders in the Thatcher Room at Portcullis House in June, Hunt called for a debate about the role of ACE. He said: "We support the principle of an arms- length body distributing funds, free from political interference. But that has become increasingly blurred.
"For example, the department [for culture] commissioned the McMaster report, and then expected the arts council to follow its recommendations. That same month when former minister for culture James Purnell was challenged about the arts council cuts, he hid behind the arms-length principle as a reason not to get involved. So it feels like arms-length when convenient, an arm-lock when not."
A spokeswoman for ACE said: "It is a shame that the Conservatives appear to have misunderstood the basis on which we make our funding decisions. The decisions on who to fund were taken not to save money, but with the express objective of getting excellent art to as many people as possible across the country.
"The arms-length principle - which is inherent in our Royal Charter - is very much in operation."
Hunt also said in his speech that the Conservatives accepted the intrinsic value of the arts and the social impact of an enlightened arts policy, emphasising that a Conservative government would maintain levels of state funding for the arts while introducing policies to encourage private giving.
Mark Taylor, the director of the Museums Association, said: "Those of us who remember the final years of the last Tory administration and their attitude to the arts have reason to be fearful. But Hunt's speech seems to suggest that there is a good deal more understanding and empathy for the arts than there was a generation ago.
"However, what we would also like to see is some commitment on future funding, particularly to national museums and Renaissance in the Regions. Let's hope that the shadow arts team is keeping on the right side of the shadow treasury team."
Stefan van Raay, the director of Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, which has been the beneficiary of a number of gifted works of art, said that he would welcome efforts to reward philanthropy, particularly through the sort of tax breaks recommended in the Goodison Review.
He added that he knew of potential donors who were waiting for a change in the law before committing themselves.
But a Conservative party spokeswoman told Museums Journal that it could not commit to finding tax breaks for donors. She said: "Because of government finances we cannot commit to any tax cuts. However, Jeremy's speech did look at other ways of rewarding philanthropy, such as through the honours system."
Speaking to a gathering of arts leaders in the Thatcher Room at Portcullis House in June, Hunt called for a debate about the role of ACE. He said: "We support the principle of an arms- length body distributing funds, free from political interference. But that has become increasingly blurred.
"For example, the department [for culture] commissioned the McMaster report, and then expected the arts council to follow its recommendations. That same month when former minister for culture James Purnell was challenged about the arts council cuts, he hid behind the arms-length principle as a reason not to get involved. So it feels like arms-length when convenient, an arm-lock when not."
A spokeswoman for ACE said: "It is a shame that the Conservatives appear to have misunderstood the basis on which we make our funding decisions. The decisions on who to fund were taken not to save money, but with the express objective of getting excellent art to as many people as possible across the country.
"The arms-length principle - which is inherent in our Royal Charter - is very much in operation."
Hunt also said in his speech that the Conservatives accepted the intrinsic value of the arts and the social impact of an enlightened arts policy, emphasising that a Conservative government would maintain levels of state funding for the arts while introducing policies to encourage private giving.
Mark Taylor, the director of the Museums Association, said: "Those of us who remember the final years of the last Tory administration and their attitude to the arts have reason to be fearful. But Hunt's speech seems to suggest that there is a good deal more understanding and empathy for the arts than there was a generation ago.
"However, what we would also like to see is some commitment on future funding, particularly to national museums and Renaissance in the Regions. Let's hope that the shadow arts team is keeping on the right side of the shadow treasury team."
Stefan van Raay, the director of Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, which has been the beneficiary of a number of gifted works of art, said that he would welcome efforts to reward philanthropy, particularly through the sort of tax breaks recommended in the Goodison Review.
He added that he knew of potential donors who were waiting for a change in the law before committing themselves.
But a Conservative party spokeswoman told Museums Journal that it could not commit to finding tax breaks for donors. She said: "Because of government finances we cannot commit to any tax cuts. However, Jeremy's speech did look at other ways of rewarding philanthropy, such as through the honours system."
