The House of Commons culture, media and sport committee has begun its inquiry into arts funding by taking evidence from the authors of Rebalancing Our Cultural Capital. That report revealed the full extent of the imbalance in central government culture funding between London and other parts of England.
Much of the committee’s focus will be on the way Arts Council England spends its money.
For museums there is a huge imbalance, but that is mainly caused by department for culture funding for the national museums, which are, of course, located mostly in London for historical reasons.
This gives the government a huge problem if it wants to do something to make funding more fair.
However, the government appears to have little interest in fairer funding. Minsters Ed Vaizey and Maria Miller have said nothing of substance about the issue and show no signs of having a plan – other, perhaps, than encouraging national museums to do more “partnerships” with regionals on the tired old crumbs-from-the-table model.
That’s why this select committee inquiry matters.
Admittedly, the committee has little power, but it can have plenty of influence on the government and its agencies. The committee has a chance to call ministers to account, armed with data on the biased state of arts funding.
The government will take things more seriously if its back-bench MPs are interested. London-based cultural organisations have an easier time when it comes to lobbying.
If you’re in a regional museum, you should make sure you brief your MP about how you are funded and how little central government funding your receive.
And make sure your MP knows how hard you work to raise funds and generate your own income – and how hard it is in some parts of the country.
Much of the committee’s focus will be on the way Arts Council England spends its money.
For museums there is a huge imbalance, but that is mainly caused by department for culture funding for the national museums, which are, of course, located mostly in London for historical reasons.
This gives the government a huge problem if it wants to do something to make funding more fair.
However, the government appears to have little interest in fairer funding. Minsters Ed Vaizey and Maria Miller have said nothing of substance about the issue and show no signs of having a plan – other, perhaps, than encouraging national museums to do more “partnerships” with regionals on the tired old crumbs-from-the-table model.
That’s why this select committee inquiry matters.
Admittedly, the committee has little power, but it can have plenty of influence on the government and its agencies. The committee has a chance to call ministers to account, armed with data on the biased state of arts funding.
The government will take things more seriously if its back-bench MPs are interested. London-based cultural organisations have an easier time when it comes to lobbying.
If you’re in a regional museum, you should make sure you brief your MP about how you are funded and how little central government funding your receive.
And make sure your MP knows how hard you work to raise funds and generate your own income – and how hard it is in some parts of the country.
