Arts Council England (ACE) has acknowledged its implementation of the 10-year strategy aimed at bringing “world-class art and culture to people’s doorsteps” has been “too prescriptive”, following criticism in an independent review of the funding body.
Published today (Tuesday 16 December), Baroness Margaret Hodge’s assessment of ACE said many in the sector supported the equality principles of Let’s Create, but felt it had become “a straitjacket” with applicants feeling forced to “tick all the ACE boxes” to secure funding, rather than explain their artistic strategies and ambitions.
ACE responded that it was “heartening” to know the tenet of Let’s Create was backed by the sector, but recognised artists and organisations must be given “more space to articulate their ambition”.
In response to Hodge’s demand that ACE “radically reform” its application and reporting requirements to become less “bureaucratic”, ACE also pledged to “reduce the administrative burden” on applicants.
“We have already begun to simplify our application and monitoring processes, but we know that we must do more, more quickly, to ensure that all our processes are smoother, faster, and easier to use,” said ACE adding that it is “committed to using the review’s findings to improve, so that we can better meet the needs of the people we serve”.
‘A big day’
Calling the report’s publication “a big day for artists and for cultural organisations”, ACE chief executive Darren Henley said: “We want people to spend less time on our paperwork and more time on their creative work.”
He continued, “Our mission over the months to come is to roll up our sleeves and make that happen.”
ACE chair Sir Nicholas Serota welcomed the report as an “opportunity to listen, learn, and improve – so that we can continue to nurture ambition, excellence, and access to excellence in the artists and organisations that we support”.
‘Contentious’ decisions on opera
Leaders from across the sector have been quick to react to the much-anticipated review, which was originally commissioned in February 2024 under the Conservative government.
Alex Beard, chief executive of Royal Ballet and Opera, said the review comes “at an ideal moment” to “revisit” ACE’s Let’s Create strategy, noting that it was “written before the pandemic” and that “the creative sector has evolved significantly in recent years”.
The report highlights ACE’s “contentious” decision to move away from artform and sector strategies, and the way this impacted funding for opera and classical music organisations in particular. Hodge concluded that it was “unclear” how and why decisions were taken in the last National Portfolio funding round to cut English National Opera and touring grants for the Welsh National Opera and Glyndebourne.
“Baroness Hodge’s proposals have the potential to be transformative for performing arts organisations by crowding in funding and widening access for all,” said Beard, adding, “Above all, our priority remains delivering the highest quality artistic experiences to the broadest possible audience.”
‘Barely scratch the surface’
In her findings, Hodge also recommended the development of a new National Programme for Individuals, to support up to 500 emerging and mid-career individuals from low-income backgrounds, underrepresented groups and underserved areas.
However, the advocacy organisation Freelancers Make Theatre Work (FMTW) said such a scheme would “barely scratch the surface” of the “widespread crisis” affecting freelancers in the theatre industry alone.
Welcoming the “thorough and impactful report,” FMTW said that while the recommendations for individual funding are “a constructive first step”, it would like to see the government “go further and faster” by committing additional funds to “back the arts freelancers on whom Britain’s global creative success story depends”.
Devolution
Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust said that among a raft of “sensible suggestions on funding” he was “heartened” to read Hodge’s calls for a statutory duty for local government to prepare a cultural strategy every five years.
“Local authorities have a crucial role to play in creating the conditions that the arts need to flourish,” said McTaggart.
“Ensuring each local area has a strategic and forward-facing cultural plan will ensure theatres up and down the country can thrive.”
Independent think tank Culture Commons also welcomed the “tone and direction” of the review and, in particular, what it may signal for devolution and local leadership – specifically “the opportunities this creates to embed culture, creativity and heritage more firmly within England’s evolving governance landscape”.
“As the review’s recommendations are taken forward, there is now a real opportunity to align national reform with devolved and democratic leadership, and to ensure culture, creativity and heritage play their full role in society,” the organisation wrote on social media.
Phased reform
Society of London Theatre (SOLT) & UK Theatre co-CEO Claire Walker said they were “pleased” with the review’s ambition to increase financial and funding pathways into the theatre ecosystem, but said “meaningful sector engagement” is required to “fully assess the implications of some of the proposed measures”.
They continued, “Equally, a national approach to investment must properly weigh all elements of the ecosystem. This must include touring, co-production, specific art forms, and infrastructure that enables work to reach audiences in every part of the country.
“We recognise that change creates uncertainty, and it is vital that any reform is phased, evidence-led, and developed in close partnership with the sector. A clear and public timeline is needed to mitigate instability.”
Jack Gamble, director of the Campaign for the Arts, said Baroness Hodge had been clear there was a need for “a strong, independent Arts Council more than ever” but had also delivered a “timely reminder” to the government about “the bleak financial position of artists and cultural organisations after years of funding cuts”.
“She is absolutely right to say that these cuts pose an ‘existential threat’, and that even ‘modest resource’ would unlock transformational benefits,” said Gamble. He called on ministers to “not only consider the Arts Council’s crucial role in our national cultural life, but how to urgently restore the investment required to sustain it”.