Written evidence submitted by Derbyshire
County Council (arts 02)
— Derbyshire County Council sees the arts
as being essential to our quality of life, and a vital aspect
of local authority provision. Arts in the UK, including those
in Derbyshire, are an international success story; this is, at
least in part, thanks to sustained investment over a number of
years.
— Continued support of the arts will allow
them to play a vital role in Britain's economic recovery. The
creative industries are the fastest growing economic sector in
Derbyshire, and public support at vital stages in the life of
a company has proven to be hugely successful in helping the sector.
Artists and emerging creative businesses often rely on public
funding in the early years, for training, professional development
and business development; but this leads on to economic growth
in the long term. It is essential that cuts to arts investment
now do not block that pathway for future artistic excellence.
— The arts are also central to a government
that places a healthy society at the heart of its agenda, having
proven benefits to both mental and physical health and well-being,
and providing civic pride and many opportunities for volunteering.
— It should be noted that the arts budget
is tiny, and the return on investment is huge; Derbyshire County
Council spending on arts development, for instance, returns nearly
£8 for every £1 invested. Any cuts to the arts will
have a disproportionate effect for a relatively tiny saving to
the public purse.
1. What impact will recent, and future, spending
cuts from central and local Government have on the arts and heritage
at a national and local level
1.1 There needs to be a careful assessment
of the effects of the cuts on different parts of the country,
both geographically and economically. Rural areas already suffer
from a lack of cultural services, and both national and local
government intervention is essential in maintaining such services.
The free market does not naturally serve rural areas, as venues
are often too small to be economically viable. Rural touring of
performing arts, for instance, is an essential service in these
areas, provides good value for money (compared with subsidy of
theatres in city centres), helps with social cohesion, overcomes
isolation for both young and old, and provides a focus for local
communities.
1.2 Local government also supports a number
of small, community-led arts organisations, such as arts festivals,
which contribute much to the vibrancy and quality of life in rural
areas, and will need continued financial support.
1.3 It is important for government to take
into account the effect of both central government cuts to arts
and heritage funding AND cuts to local government spending. Many
arts organisations depend on funding from Arts Council, top tier
and second tier local government, and are facing funding cuts
from all three.
1.4 Government should also take account
of the fact that many arts organisations depend on charitable
trust funds for grants, and this funding stream is also reducing,
because of low interest rates and poor stock market rates.
2. What arts organisations can do to work
more closely together in order to reduce duplication of effort
and to make economies of scale
2.1 The arts organisations in Derbyshire
do not overlap in functions; largely, they serve different geographical
areas or different groups of people. However, it may be possible
for some of them to share administrative costs; this is being
investigated currently, but would be a small saving, probably
just a few hundred pounds.
3. What level of public subsidy for the arts
and heritage is necessary and sustainable
3.1 In order to ensure a high quality level
of arts provision in rural areas, some level of public subsidy
is essential; typically, income from participants is less than
25% of the overall budget. Most of the organisations in Derbyshire
receiving public funding are those which service rural or deprived
communities, where private sponsorship is not available, the beneficiaries
are not able to pay the full cost of the activities and there
is little commercial artistic activity outside individual private
creative industries.
4. Whether the current system, and structure,
of funding distribution is the right one
What impact recent changes to the distribution
of National Lottery funds will have on arts and heritage organisations
Whether the policy guidelines for National Lottery
funding need to be reviewed
4.1 Derbyshire County Council welcomes the
proposal to return National Lottery allocations to their original
proportions. This will help support artistic endeavour in the
county, but will not make up for reductions to Arts Council, as
this is longer term, non-project based funding.
5. The impact of recent changes to DCMS arm's-length
bodies—in particular the abolition of the UK Film Council
and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
5.1 Regional film agencies provide much
needed support to local film makers and film distributors, but
the cuts to both RDAs and the UK Film Council will mean the end
of regional film agencies, unless their funding is channelled
in a different way. However, the distribution of Lottery funding
for film through at least four different agencies (UK Film Council,
regional film agencies (EM Media in the East Midlands), MediaBox
and First Light) must surely be wasteful, and could be channelled
through one body. Arts Council England used to distribute Lottery
funding for film, and perhaps could take this on in the future.
6. Whether businesses and philanthropists
can play a long-term role in funding arts at a national and local
level
Whether there need to be more Government incentives
to encourage private donations
6.1 This is long-term strategy, as it will
take a significant shift in thinking to achieve. However, it is
a positive way forward for some arts organisations. It is more
likely to help large organisations, or those serving a "popular"
cause. Many arts organisations work with the least likeable sections
of our community, and are unlikely to attract much philanthropic
giving.
6.2 Government incentives to encourage private
donations would be very welcome, so long as the system is simple
and easy to use.
August 2010
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