1,333 arts organisations entered the new National Portfolio application process. 695 realised funding, leaving 638 to sink or swim.
The organisations some new many established were all judged on their viability as a business model as well as their unique contributive artistic characteristics. The sucessful aplicants will receive funding over the next three years. New organisations applying for arts council grants for the first time stood alongside well known institutions. A clearer picture of the 15% cuts to frontline arts organisations has now become apparent and It also allows the first real insight into the Arts Council’s collective state of mind under the leadership of Dame Liz Forgan, the newish chair.
Arts Council England distributes funds to hundreds of galleries, arts venues, and theatre groups. When the cuts were announced, its spokesperson said they would have “a significant impact on the cultural life of the country”. Dame Liz, a former journalist and presenter said, the cuts were “fair and decent, but tough for the arts.” A committee of MPs suggested in a recent parliamentary report that about half of all organisations applying for Arts Council funds in the latest round, should receive nothing. The Parliamentary report also said, the charity (ACE) spent far too much on administration and was nothing short of another Quango. This brand of reactionary opinion is fortunately not widespread. It clearly sets out to undermine all of the good work ACE has accomplished over the years.
Some of the biggest performing arts organisations – including the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company,Royal Opera, and ENO will lose 15% of their funding and“second tier” companies will stand to lose the most. This formula carries on in respect to museums, galleries and events.
There is a voice, Following a meeting last week, at the Young Vic a group of cross arts representatives wrote an open letter directed at Prime minister David Cameron. The meeting was attended by over 500 concerned members of the arts community. A consensus was drawn that, the arts are certainly, one of value. We are afraid that an essential value of art, a means by which people and societies achieve their full human potential, is in danger of being treated as a side effect. Keep watching this space as we publish updates.
Statement ACE
• Reduced grant in aid budget (down 14.9%) in context of wider public sector cuts
• Arts Council cuts strategically – no ‘equal cuts for all’
• National portfolio of 695 organisations replaces previous RFO portfolio of 849
• 110 new organisations brought into the mix
• Focus on excellent organisations and exceptional individual talent, with decisions shaped by a 10-year vision for arts
• Touring receives major support with £18 million Lottery a year earmarked for portfolio organisations
• £10.5 million Lottery a year also targeted at work with children and young people, to ensure vital educational work
• Extra £12 million Grants for the arts Lottery money freed up for small organisations
• Regret as good applications turned down, including 206 existing regularly funded organisations
The day has arrived. Hundreds of arts organisations have been dreading this moment .
They will now find out what money Arts Council England will give them for the three years,2012 – 2015. A total of 1,333 organisations have applied. An estimated 750 will get money.he DCMS announced last year that the money it gives to ACE would drop by 29.6% over four years, going down from £452m to £350m. But it also said that front line funding could only go down by 15% and the arts council would have to reduce its administration costs by 50% over the four years. This is news so far. Updates to follow.The arts is the 2nd most profitable industry in the UK after finance. This is an investment that creates jobs. For every arts job lost a Banking position should also go. Tit for Tat!
Visual Arts Winners
Camden Arts Centre will earn £960,000, a rise from a current allowance of slightly more than £700,000, and the Serpentine Gallery will receive a grant increase of 19.5%.
The Barbican, which enjoyed a 129% rise in its allowance, and the South London Gallery, with a 107% gain.
South London Gallery: “Everyone at the SLG is thrilled with the increase to our funding. This is a wonderfully heartening and much needed acknowledgement of the quality and impact of our programmes.
The Whitechapel and The Serpentine galleries both increase their grants
“The Arts Council’s decision recognises the degree to which the SLG has grown, having doubled in size and significantly expanded the scope of its programmes following the recent expansion of our building.
Towner (contemporary art gallery, Eastbourne): “Ecstatic about this morning’s Arts Council announcement – our level of funding has doubled! By far the biggest uplift for the visual arts in the South East, and among the highest across the country!”
Arnolfini (arts space, Bristol): “We are very happy and relieved to hear that Arnolfini has been successful in its bid for National Portfolio funding, and the immediate future is secure.
Wolverhampton Art Gallery: “We are incredibly pleased to announce that we will be receiving ACE funding, and have been selected for the National Portfolio.
Whitworth Art Gallery (Manchester): “Really delighted to be on the national portfolio list.”
Yorkshire Sculpture Park gets £1.3m – a 5% cut. Executive Director, Peter Murray CBE said:”During the last 34 years, Yorkshire Sculpture Park has undergone significant transformational changes. From humble beginnings in 1977, with £1,000 to fund a small exhibition of 31 sculptures and no audience, to 300,000 visitors, 45,000 learning visitors, multiple projects supporting the local community and to generate £4 million annually.
‘Great art for everyone’ has been YSP’s goal since opening to the public in 1977, enabling access, understanding and enjoyment of art and landscape for everyone, whilst dismantling many of the barriers that often exist between the public and contemporary art. This vision remains as strong as ever.
The Drawing Room in Hackney is another newly funded organisation. A statement said:
“We are thrilled to become a core funded organisation; we acknowledge the support of countless artists who have helped build our reputation and we are delighted to receive the endorsement of the Arts Council.
Photography a winning medium
The Photographers Gallery, in London The Gallery adds: “The continued support from Arts Council England allows us to deliver our vision through our world-class programme
Photofusion, in London “We asked for £150,893 a yar [the funding it received for the year 2011/2012] and we got it,” she says. “We’re so relieved and delighted, because, of course, our staff and our members were very concerned – without the ACE funding we would not have been able to continue.”
Photoworks, in Brighton Director Emma Morris has confirmed to BJP that her organisation is now part of the Arts Council England National Portfolio, and will receive, from next year, £280,000 in public funding.
Rhubarb Rhubarb, in Birmingham a photographic development agency that works internationally with traditional and new technologies, will receive around £100,000 a year for the next three years, says company manager Lorna-Mary Webb.
Open Eye Gallery, in Liverpool which has gone through refurbishing in the past year, has seen its annual ACE funding increase by 15.4%. The gallery has yet to comment to BJP.
De La Warr Pavilion, in Bexhill
The De La Warr Pavilion will receive up to £530,572 in funding each year for the next three years, “representing a small decrease in current funding levels,” says the organisation.
The Photographer’s Gallery in London is getting an increase. They released this statement:
“We are delighted with today’s announcement that Arts Council England will increase the Gallery’s funding for 2012 – 2015.”
Studio Voltaire and Intoart, a joint application, become one of the 100 or so (estimated) new national portfolio organisations.
FutureEverything, the Manchester festival of digital culture, is to receive funding
Artsdepot in North Finchley, which had its funding brutally and suddenly removed by Barnet Council – a 100% cut of £194,000 for the only professional arts venue in the borough – has at least had cheering arts council news.
They’ve got £300,000 this year, down 6% from this year, but they are just relieved.
Kendal Arts International (KAI), which creates and directs the Lakes Alive outdoor events programme in Cumbria with Manchester International Arts. It will receive a grant of £890,000 over three years.
Visual Arts Losers
ICA down 42% but still funded!
If the ICA had 1,431,658 for 2010/2011 and ACE have cut the budget by 42% is it only left with £830,361? This couldn’t be! Please correct me!
Riverside Studios Loses 100% of its ACE funding
Pavilion, in Leeds The Leeds-based visual arts commissioning agency has lost 100% of its Arts Council England funding, leaving the organisation is a dire situation. A spokeswoman couldn’t comment when contacted, but BJP understands that Pavilion is now looking at options to survive.
Zinc, which says it is the largest disabled-led arts organisation in England and has had arts council funding for 16 years has been turned down.
April 2012 we will no longer receive regular arts funding from ACE Very sad news
Museums Sheffield has been turned down after applying for £68,000 for its programme of contemporary art. It is one of 206 existing RFO’s which will no longer receive annual ACE funding.
Paul Billington, Director of Culture for Sheffield City Council (Museums Sheffield’s largest funder) said:
“Sheffield City Council is disappointed to hear about the Arts Council’s decision on funding Museums Sheffield. Museums Sheffield plays an important role in the city’s cultural life and the City Council will continue to support and work with the organisation over the coming year.
I Value the Arts (campaign): “Audience Development has been one of the big losers in the Arts Council England shake-up. What will this mean for the cultural sector?”
Vivid (arts centre, Birmingham): “I guess we don’t need to say it, but huge disappointment in the Garage today at NPO decision for VIVID.”