Demonstrators call on Bristol’s mayor to restore arts funding

A demonstration has been held in front of Bristol City Hall today (6 July), calling on Mayor Marvin Rees to restore the city’s arts funding.

Arts organisations funded by Bristol City Council were expecting to receive news of funding decisions nine months ago, back in October 2022, but were told they had to wait until June this year. Now they have been notified, by email, that decisions on the level of funding they will receive – if any – has been further postponed until March 2024.

Equity, which organised the demonstration, said the delay “will have hugely damaging consequences for one of the most important industries in Bristol’s economy”.

During todays protest, creative workers and union members from across Bristol marched to City Hall to hand deliver a copy of a letter addressed to Rees, demanding the arts funding is restored.

The letter also asks for an explanation to the original delay, if any analysis over the economic impact and potential for job losses the delay could cause has been undertaken and reassurance a 100% funding cut will not be implemented down the line.

In addition to the demonstration, over 750 people have signed a petition calling for the restoration of Bristol's arts funding.

Arts organisations in Bristol have warned the new date for funding decisions is only a month before the grant period starts, meaning organisations can't plan for the future and will likely result in a loss of work, income and closures in the interim.

During today's protest, DragonBird Theatre, a company that delivers early years theatre for families and children, said it does not know if the company would survive beyond September.

A spokesperson for the Mayor told Arts Professional this year’s funds are being held while officers are instructed to redesign the council's Cultural Investment Programme and will be awarded after recommendations are received from an independent panel.

“We have continued to fund culture organisations and rolled over last year’s funding to ensure there were no gaps,” the spokesperson added.

“Although the council does not have a legal duty to fund the culture and arts in the city, we recognise the value of the local sector and work closely with partners such as the Arts Council to ensure funding is made available and organisations are supported to deliver the city’s world renowned cultural offer.”

'Strangling' the creative community

Meanwhile, actress Rachael Fagan, Equity’s South West Councillor, called on Rees to “come clean and explain his decision-making regarding arts funding for Bristol residents and creative workers”.

“His lack of transparency and delayed decisions since October 2022 is harming the cultural fabric of this city. The creative industries are economically important. We are not hobbyists and luvvies but freelance workers, and the creative community in Bristol is being strangled by a lack of funding,” she said.

She added that the creative economy boosts demand for local services, including cafes, bars and shops, and places higher demands on suppliers.

“Each creative job across the UK generates at least 1.9 non-tradeable jobs,” she said. “These cuts will decrease engagement in arts activities for Bristol’s residents and are linked to steeper declines in health and wellbeing over time.”

She called on Rees to “restore the funding – no delays, no cuts”.