Frazer: Philanthropy ‘key to widening arts access’

A collective attitude shift towards philanthropy is needed to boost funding for the arts, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has said.

Speaking at the launch of a report on philanthropy by think tank Onward last week (Friday 26 February), Frazer warned of a reluctance to "recognise wealth as a positive force in society," adding that society often "denigrates those who succeed and those who give".

"The Science Museum [was] forced to abandon its backing by Shell. The National Portrait Gallery received a great deal of unwarranted criticism for its sponsorship by a law firm," she said.

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"For its recent commitment of £50m to the British Museum, the biggest donation of its kind, I think we should say to BP, thank you.

"The ultimate beneficiaries of these sponsorships are all of us."

Frazer went on to say that while government funding sustains free entry and access to our world-leading museums and art galleries, "exceptional acts of generosity such as donations and sponsorships are key to widening access to great artworks and cultural treasures".

"They help to drive tourism into the UK and help us retain our soft power abroad."

Her comments, following similar ones made by Scotland's Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, come as arts and culture organisations across England face ongoing financial difficulty.

Many organisations have seen their public funding reduced or cut entirely as ACE redistributed money to underserved areas at the behest of central government for its 2023-26 National Portfolio.

Meanwhile, many local authorities, the biggest funders of arts and culture in England, are cutting cultural budgets as they attempt to balance the books.

Earlier this month Shadow Culture Secretary Thangham Debbonaire said that a Labour government will work to identify new funding sources for arts and culture if elected to power at the next general election, saying she wanted the widest approach to where investment comes from.