Purpose of the Statement

To set out the association’s position regarding key issues in this sector in order to influence and shape thinking in relation to policy development.

Background / Context

Local government is a key deliverer and supporter of the arts.  It runs its own arts venues and programmes and provides grant funding and advice to the independent arts sector, often in partnership with Arts Council England.  Arts in places across the country are part of a complex eco-system and contribute to a wide range of outcomes for individuals and communities, from health & wellbeing, to skills, economic growth, a vibrant high street and increased social capacity and cohesion.  Local government increasingly works with local partners (internally and externally) to develop and resource strategies and shared priorities for arts delivery, often through constituted local partnerships.

CLOA’s Position

CLOA’s base position is the same as the National Alliance for Cultural Services calling for a new approach to:

• Simplify the funding landscape and move towards a more coherent, long-term, strategic partnership investment settlement for place integrating with locally agreed strategies

• Remove duplication of effort across the system and create a single point of strategic discussion between DCMS and local authorities  

• Revisit the balance between revenue and capital funding; investment in new capital schemes should always include appropriate provision for revenue.   

• Create a national strategy for culture developed with the key stakeholders including local government and which analyses and addresses the brakes and accelerators on country-wide cultural development

• Explore an “area specialism” element to funding, relating to local contribution to national strategic priorities (eg tourism, creative industries cluster, skills)

• Ensure libraries are acknowledged at national level to be a responsibility of local government and an integral part of cultural policy within local authority structures, not treated as a stand alone or silo’d function

Recommendations / Calls to Action

Most recently, CLOA has contributed to the Hodge Review of Arts Council England, our closest partner in resourcing the sector.  CLOA produced a joint response to the review with LGA and the National Alliance – you can read a summary of the points covered here.