Arts Council England must change or face ‘disaster’, culture department is told
Why it matters: A failing arts funder threatens the UK's cultural vitality and economic contribution.
- Margaret Hodge – chair of the Arts Council England review – demands a radical overhaul or risk a sector‑wide disaster (DCMS testimony).
- Arts Council England – accused of losing the confidence of its grant recipients, who feel the body can’t meet modern cultural challenges.
- DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) – warned that in‑action could cripple the UK’s cultural ecosystem, urging immediate change.
- Grant recipients – report feeling abandoned, highlighting a widening gap between funder and the creative community.
Margaret Hodge, who led the inquiry into Arts Council England, warned the DCMS committee that the body’s current model is failing its fund‑holders and that without a “radical” overhaul it will become a disaster for the UK’s cultural sector. She says grant‑receivers have lost confidence, urging swift reform to keep the arts vibrant.
