{"id":609445,"date":"2026-05-29T01:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T01:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/609445\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T01:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T01:00:10","slug":"breaking-ace-replaces-lets-create-and-vows-to-fund-on-basis-of-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/609445\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: ACE replaces Let’s Create and vows to fund ‘on basis of quality’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Controversial Arts Council England (ACE) road map Let\u2019s Create has officially been replaced by its new Strategic Framework<\/a>, months after an independent review into the funder<\/a> diagnosed it as \u201cprescriptive\u201d.<\/p>\n

Today (28 May), ACE chief executive Darren Henley declared the fresh framework to be the \u201cnext stage\u201d in better supporting artists and organisations across the country.<\/p>\n

It is published months after ACE and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) vowed to \u201caccept or explore\u201d<\/a> all of the recommendations made in Baroness Margaret Hodge\u2019s review into the body, including that it \u201creplace Let\u2019s Create with a new, less prescriptive strategy\u201d.<\/p>\n

Hodge\u2019s review called instead for an \u201cambitious\u201d and \u201csimple\u201d strategy \u201cthat allows each organisation or individual to apply [for funding] according to their strengths and the unique contribution they can make to delivering a vibrant and innovative creative sector\u201d.<\/p>\n

What was Let\u2019s Create?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Create was a 10-year plan introduced by ACE in 2020, presenting an \u201cambitious vision for the future of creativity and culture\u201d.<\/p>\n

Introduced off the back of criticism that ACE funding was heavily focused on established, professional art forms and did not encourage diversity or inclusion, the strategic vision was launched to democratise arts and culture.<\/p>\n

By 2030, the Arts Council wanted to create \u201ca country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish\u201d, by focusing on funding for arts organisations committing to inclusivity, environmental responsibility, dynamism and ambition.<\/p>\n

It soon came under scrutiny for restricting the actions of arts organisations and denying power to the regions.<\/p>\n

ACE\u2019s response earlier this year promised \u201ca simple, streamlined interim strategic framework\u201d to \u201cbuild\u201d on Let\u2019s Create\u2019s values.<\/p>\n

What is the Strategic Framework 2026?<\/p>\n

ACE has called the Strategic Framework a \u201cpractical, interim guide\u201d explaining how it will prioritise its work, design its services, and make investment decisions.<\/p>\n

The framework will eventually be replaced by a ratified, wholesale strategy.<\/p>\n

It bases ACE\u2019s investment in organisations on three overarching considerations: to support excellence, \u201cdeliver for everybody\u201d, and \u201creach everywhere\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe our investment should support an exceptional creative and cultural
sector: one that is ambitious, innovative, outward-looking and world-leading,\u201d the guidance reads.<\/p>\n

As per one of Hodge\u2019s recommendations, the framework vows to change the way ACE engages with individuals, including beginning work \u201cimmediately\u201d on its Service for Individuals by consulting freelancers and artists.<\/p>\n

Regarding regional development, the framework sets out ambitions to counter the \u201cunevenly distributed\u201d funding that has persisted historically within the sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will seek to balance investment and activity across the country to help redress this,\u201d it assures readers.<\/p>\n

It also emphasises artistic excellence as the primary consideration for funding applications: \u201cWe will only invest in work that we believe is, or has the potential to be, excellent.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur funding decisions will be made on the basis of the quality of the creative or cultural work you are proposing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The document appears to address Hodge\u2019s concern that ACE had been guilty of overpoliticisation<\/a> in recent years, and states that the body sees its decision-making as \u201cfree of political interference\u201d, as is \u201ccentral to protecting artistic freedom\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, it adds: \u201cWe are required to respond to the policy priorities of the government of the day through our services and our development work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The policy vows to \u201cdeepen\u201d engagement with local and mayoral authorities, as well as collaborating more determinedly with philanthropists and the private sector.<\/p>\n

ACE also pledges to provide greater resources with \u201csimpler research, data, and practical support\u201d for artists, freelancers, and organisations across England.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur previous strategy, Let\u2019s Create, was built on broad consultation with artists and cultural organisations, with the public, with local and national government, and with our partners in villages, towns and cities across England. The result was a document created by, with and for those we work with,\u201d the guide concludes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe our next strategy must also reflect the needs and ambitions of those we work with and invest in, and of the public we all serve. The work on developing that strategy will start in late 2026 \u2013 and in line with our service design approach, opportunities for people across the country to help shape what comes next will be at the heart of it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Controversial Arts Council England (ACE) road map Let\u2019s Create has officially been replaced by its new Strategic Framework,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":609446,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[6225,6485,6486,1120,96,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-609445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=609445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609445\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/609446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=609445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=609445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=609445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}