Creative UK responds to the Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation Announcement

Creative UK’s CEO, Caroline Norbury OBE, responds to today’s National Portfolio Organisation announcement from Arts Council England:

“Arts Council England was always going to have a tough job on its hands. There was never enough in the coffers to adequately fund the many artists, creators and cultural organisations seeking their support, most of whom have emerged from a bruising pandemic into an uncertain climate. While today’s announcement may mean elation and relief for some, we recognise that for others it means bitter disappointment, and potentially, despair. Our Arts Council England colleagues have been tasked to deliver a balanced portfolio with a challenging brief, however, the sooner we start to understand that culture is an investment not a cost the better. The overall funding envelope for culture and the Creative Industries urgently needs to be increased.

 
Creative UK supports the levelling up agenda and the importance of not only reducing inequity but investing in the places where we live. With this, we are pleased to see greater investment in cultural organisations in key levelling-up areas. However, levelling up cannot mean levelling down, and a rapid reduction in support for world-class cultural organisations in London is short-sighted. The growth potential of the Creative Industries is unparalleled, and greater investment in culture across all regions and disciplines is needed so that the UK retains its status as a global creative superpower.”