A senior theatre industry figure has called on local authorities to “stop hoping someone else will pay” for culture as councils in financial difficulties consider stopping arts funding.
Stephanie Sirr MBE is joint president of the trade body UK Theatre and chief executive of Nottingham Playhouse, which faces having its entire funding slashed by Nottingham city council.
She said, “the idea that local authorities leave the funding of their cultural offer to either commercial income or the Arts Council has been gathering pace for a decade.
“Despite having a much better understanding of the positive impact of culture on every aspect of their stakeholders’ lives, there are local authorities that feign ignorance. Culture supports literacy, oracy, good mental health, reduces loneliness, attracts tourism and employs significant numbers of taxpayers. It’s the main motivator to attracting both visitors and major businesses to relocate. It’s too valuable to its communities to hope that ‘someone else’ will pay for it.
“Looking ahead, it’s essential that a proper commitment to supporting cultural enterprises is made in partnership with the Arts Council.”
Nottingham city council has issued a section 114 notice, effectively declaring itself bankrupt, because it has not been able to produce a balanced budget. It needs to save £50 million and its budget proposals for 2024–25 include plans to “cease contributions to the cultural sector” which in 2023–24 amounted to £198,000. Nottingham Playhouse received £60,502. The cut is thought to represent only 0.4% of the monies the city needs to save in 2024–25.
Sirr added, “we know the city faces exceptional pressures but Nottingham has an impressive cultural offer attracting multiple millions of visitors each year and unlocking multiple millions of ACE funding.
“One of the things Nottingham can be truly proud of is its ability to attract and retain artists, audiences, participants and tourists. For what is already a modest investment, the residents of Nottingham access a rich and high-quality offer. But it can’t be sustained without its strategic value being acknowledged and committed to by Nottingham city council.
“Nottingham Playhouse has engaged and served its community for decades. It’s an award-winning theatre with a local, regional, national and international profile—one of the celebrated facets of a city that is rich in culture. But it needs a financial investment from its local authority.
“Not only does Nottingham Playhouse attract thousands of visitors each year and generate multiple millions of economic impact, it even directly contributes to council coffers through over £200,000 of parking meter income each year.”
Suffolk county council has already completely cut its arts funding, which has affected Ipswich’s New Wolsey Theatre. Other local authorities in Birmingham, Bristol, Hampshire and Woking are proposing similar measures.