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Culture secretary accuses arts council of ‘spin’
Tessa Jowell, the secretary for Culture has responded to the Arts Council of England’s angry reaction to an arts funding freeze, accusing the Council of spin, and maintaining that there has been an increase in funding. Writing in the Guardian, Jowell called the Council’s estimate of a £30 million real time cut ‘simply untrue’, stating that, ‘Government funding for the arts in England increases by £45m next year. That means funding has increased from £332m in 2003-04 to £412m in 2005-06.’ Responsibility for the absorbing the static funding levels should fall to administrations, not artists, she said. Improved efficiency would count for a £47.5 million ‘freeing up’ of funds, ultimately coming to a £53 million increase. ‘The combined effect of all this is at least a 9% real terms increase between 2004-05 and 2007-08 for England's arts institutions, artists and performers,’ said Jowell, adding that, ‘Every bureaucracy, no matter how benign, risks losing its edge, especially after periods of increased funding.’ Peter Hewitt, the Arts Council of England’s chief executive has responded. ‘These cuts will impact on frontline arts,’ he said. ‘The £45m 'increase' Tessa refers to for 2005-06 is double counting. The government announced this in 2002 and it has already been spent. Funding to the arts has been frozen between 2006 and 2008. By anyone's calculation this is a cut of over £30m.’ Tom Morris, associate director at the National Theatre has also written in response to Jowell’s claims, arguing that the Minister has been ‘mugged’ by the Treasury, ‘who made five years of strategic investment in the arts look like a flash in the pan.’ ‘We have been teased with the value of “joined-up government”, “strategic investment” and “long-term outcomes”,’ said Morris. ‘In relation to the arts, these phrases now ring hollow.’ To read a breakdown of the budget itself, visit the Department for Culture, Media and Sport To read Jowell’s response, CLICK HERE
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