Below, read how the museum and arts sectors have responded to this cut. You can also add your own opinion on our Cuts Monitor page or on Twitter using #museumcuts.
Maurice Davies, head of policy and communication at the Museums Association (MA), said:
"I'm pleased that the government has listened to the MA and others who warned that cuts of 25-40% would devastate museums' public services. National and Renaissance museums will be relieved. However, local government funding is being cut massively and I fear this will have an impact on many museums in the months to come."
Click here to read comments from MA director, Mark Taylor
Click here to read comments from MA president, Vanessa Trevelyan
Roy Clare, chief executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, said:
“[...] We need to look carefully at the local government funding position. Councils are left with really tough decisions that could leave museum, library and archives services extremely vulnerable. We believe that the government’s commitment to Renaissance funds is now a strong challenge and provides a powerful incentive to local authorities and other local funders."
Alan Davey, chief executive of Arts Council England (ACE), said:
“This [29.6% administration cut] will inevitably have a significant impact on the cultural life of the country.
“[...] Council had already indicated it will seek to minimise the effect of any cuts to the portfolio of arts organisations we regularly fund and will consider the overall position when it meets on 25 October. We will now be analysing the details of the settlement and the consequences for the arts in this country as a whole.
“We will announce how we will be implementing the cuts shortly after, and will then get on with the job in hand."
"The vast majority of ACE’s grant in aid budget (about 75%) goes to regularly funded organisations. The rest is currently split between managed funds (ACE’s research and development fund), overheads and the grant to Creative and Cultural Education (CCE, the body that delivers Creative Partnerships).
"ACE needs to save £100 million over the next four years. Cutting the regularly funded organisaton budget by 15% will save it about half this. If CCE goes completely, this will save another £31 million. That still leaves about £19 million to be found out of a current combined budget of around £65 million on research and development and overheads.
"[...] It is crucial not to forget the impact the other £50m in cuts will have on the ecology of the sector. The vast majority of the £31m going to CCE actually funds the work of artists and arts organisations. ACE’s managed funds pot invests in major initiatives like Turning Point, Artsmark, Arts Award, Own Art and Take it Away, along with all the excellent data and research into audiences that has made England a world leader in understanding and developing audiences. Ceasing or radically reducing this investment will have a major impact on the sector and the public.
"Sadly it seems it’s not that easy to make a 30% cut feel like it is only 15% after all."
Louise De Winter, director of the National Campaign for the Arts (NCA), said:
"It’s a rum day when cuts of 15% can now be greeted with some measure of relief; we’re not saying these cuts won’t hurt, but they will be more manageable than was previously feared.
“[...] However, Arts Council England has received an overall budget cut of nearly 30% and has to make a 50% cut in its administrative costs, so further savings still have to be sought elsewhere in the budget.
“[...] Arts organisations will also have to take into consideration the impact of the higher level of cuts to local authority budgets of 28%. As non-statutory services, they will be affected by the squeeze felt by local authorities as they simultaneously have their budgets slashed and are prevented from raising extra revenue through the council tax. We are concerned that this impact will fall greatest on the smaller organisations, particularly in the regions and rural areas.”
Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, said:
“We are pleased that Jeremy Hunt and Ed Vaizey have recognised the unique role museums play in the world today and reaffirmed their support of free admission. We are also particularly encouraged that they have reconfirmed the government’s support of the British Museum’s planned new world conservation and exhibition centre, a crucial investment in the British Museum’s future ability to work across the UK and the world.”
Michael Dixon, chair of the National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC) and director of the Natural History Museum, said:
“Although funding cuts may not be as high in percentage terms as other areas of DCMS or government spending, they will be equally challenging due to the high unavoidable costs of running museums compared to other government-funded institutions."
David Fleming, director National Museums Liverpool, said:
"This cut will seriously damage our ability to deliver world class museums and galleries.
“A 15% cut is on top of a 3.5% cut earlier this year, which led to several National Museums Liverpool improvement schemes being cancelled. We now need to look at the figures closely. We will do our best to cope but our service to the public will suffer."
Nicholas Penny, director of the National Gallery, said:
“The DCMS has ensured the unique contribution that museums make has been reflected in the settlement. We also welcome the announcement regarding access to museum reserves. We will now establish how the National Gallery will operate with the new allocation from the start of the next financial year.
Bill Ferris, chairman of the Association of Independent Museums, said:
"Anyone whose running costs are covered by visitor income should be worried. The effect of the spending review on people's ability to go out is of concern, particularly as it is combined with a reduction in tourism budgets and local authority budgets.
"Some of our members will have service level agreements with local authorities, and these will be in doubt. It is going to be a tough time and I think we will see local authority and independent museums going out of business."
Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), said:
“We are pleased that in difficult circumstances the important role of the NHMF has been recognised, and that government funding will continue [NHMF will receive grant-in-aid of £20m over the next four years].
"Of course, it is disappointing that this is less than the grant in aid since 2007 of £10m per year, but, in these difficult times, we will continue to do our utmost to play a vital part in saving great heritage right across the UK, in memory of those who have given their lives for the nation.”
Margaret Faull, director of the National Coal Mining Museum for England, said:
“The cut in the allocation to the DCMS was 25%, so we are relieved that the cut in our grant was confined to 15%. We are extremely grateful to all the people who have campaigned so vigorously on our behalf. The board of trustees will need to make some tough decisions, but we are confident that a visit to the museum will still be a worthwhile and enjoyable experience for the 120,000 people who visit each year.”