Responding to the announcement made today by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, CLOA (Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association) welcomes the acknowledgement that the condition of museums, heritage sites and libraries in our communities has been deteriorating over a long period, owing to a severe lack of funds for maintaining these important assets. However, we are disappointed that such a large investment in the infrastructure has not been balanced with any measures to address the ongoing crisis in local government revenue funding, which is curtailing (and in some instances leading to the total cessation of) programmes of cultural activity from these sites.
National institutions (primarily based in London) will receive the lion’s share of these funds. We continue to encourage the DCMS to engage productively in a discussion with local government about how these bodies can work in alignment with local plans for culture to ensure this resource works hard where it is most needed across the country. The funds announced to support libraries, which make such an important contribution to both economic and community wellbeing at a local level, amount to less than £1800 per library and provide very little sustainable gain for library users in relation to literacy, inclusion and health which would support the government’s missions for change.
We are disappointed that the advice we have given to government and its arm’s length bodies about the need for strategic investment linked to local need and place-based prioritisation has not been heard. This settlement is a tactical sticking plaster rather than a clear strategic lead for how culture could and should be delivered to benefit everyone in our society. Framing culture solely as an economic driver, it ignores the value of culture in our communities as a means to support local identity, engender tolerance and enjoy a fulfilling life.
CLOA, in partnership with the Local Government Association, convenes the National Cultural Alliance of all local government networks representing the senior officers responsible for delivering cultural services in our communities. We will continue to press for an open dialogue and improved collaboration across the national system of funding for culture. We urge DCMS to take up our offer of help and work with local government, which remains the principal supporter and funder of the arts, to develop a new national cultural strategy to ensure the funds that are being made available are linked to a rounded and sustainable approach.
Julie Russell Chair of CLOA and Vice-Chairs Val Birchall & Donna Pentelow
