Local authority funding survey 2024: preliminary findings

More than two thirds of local authorities have either made, or are planning to make, cuts to the amount they spend on arts and culture in the face of ongoing financial pressures, Arts Professional's latest Pulse survey has found.

Initial findings from the survey show that 54% of respondents said their local authority had cut direct funding to arts and culture, with 15.3% saying their council was planning to make cuts.

Only one in seven councils – 14.6% – have not cut direct arts funding, respondents reported.

READ MORE:

• Local authority funding cuts causing profound damage
• Dismay as Birmingham Council proposes ceasing arts grants

Despite additional funding from central government, council finances continue to be under strain due to a mix of inflation, high energy costs and increase for demand in services such as adult social care and children's social care.

A number of local authorities have faced criticism in recent months after detailing proposed arts and culture cuts for the 2024/2025 financial year (which began this month) including Birmingham, Nottingham and Coventry.

Balancing the books

But the overall picture remains unclear due to lags in the reporting of financial data and the fact that councils do not use a unified budget category for recording their arts and culture spending.

According to the survey, councils are taking a range of steps affecting arts and culture to reduce spending and balance the books.

In addition to cutting direct funding, 39.1% of respondents said their local authority has cut the number of arts and culture officers it employs, with a further 9.8% saying they were planning to do this.

One respondent noted: “This is the worst I have ever known it in 25 years. Almost as bad as the cuts to funding is the lack of expertise within officers in [local authorities] so they don't make good decisions or arguments."

Meanwhile, 28.5% of respondent said their local authority had 'spun-off' venues or organisations into independent entities

Nearly one in five respondents - 18.8% - said their local authority has sold off venues or organisations to commercial operators, with a further 17.2% planning such a measure.

Another respondent said: “There is no quick fix or alternative to cutting public funding budgets for the arts. Arts organisations are already super savvy and well used to looking to all sorts of alternative income streams. 

“The squeeze is so tight now, there is nowhere else to turn. Only entirely commercial ventures will survive if this trend continues, further excluding those who are already most excluded from the arts."