The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is the UK’s only independent campaigning organisation representing all the arts. They do not receive any core subsidy from the public or political purse and are funded by members to carry out vital lobbying and advocacy work.
Arts & Cuts interviewed Louise de Winter, NCA Director, about the budget cuts and their effect on the arts industry.
Q: What has been the initial reaction and responses you’ve been getting from the public since the UK budget cuts announcement?
Ms De Winter: In terms of responses from the public, over 15,000 people have signed on the I Value the Arts website to show their support for the arts.
Q: How have the budget cuts affected people in terms of job losses?
DW: It’s too early to tell how this impacts on jobs. Not all funding decisions have been announced and local governments (who also fund the arts) are waiting to hear what their settlements will be. However, we do know that Somerset County Council has recently voted for a 100 per cent cut of its arts development budget (£159,000). This is bound to have an effect on those organisations involved.
Q: What is your organisation’s stand on the budget cuts issue?
DW: The National Campaign for the Arts worked vigorously with the sector to make the case for public investment in the arts. We always understood (as indeed did the arts sector as a whole) that the sector could not be immune from the cuts and lobbied hard to make sure that the cuts were not too fast or too deep. The Chancellor announcing a 15 per cent cut to ‘frontline arts organisations’ appeared to have heard those arguments by limiting the extent of cuts to organisations. However, the cut to Arts Council England of 30 per cent will still have a massive impact on ‘frontline arts’ and organisations, as many programmes, projects and organisations were also funded through ‘strategic funding’. For example, the Manchester International Festival is not a regularly funded organisation, but received funding directly from Arts Council’s strategic funds. Similarly, the 50 per cent admin cut that the Arts Council will have to make to its own costs, is also bound to impact on the arts sector as its capacity to respond to artists’ needs and inquiries will be more curtailed.
Add all of that up with the 28 per cent cuts to local government (which will probably also massively rebound on arts and culture budgets, as evidenced by what happened in Somerset) and one can see that the outlook for the arts is very bleak.
Q: Do you feel the government could have handled the cuts differently?
DW: I think the DCMS could have thought more clearly first about what type of organization and funding body it wanted the Arts Council to be, before making such massive cuts to its budget. Given that the Government expects the Arts Council to probably pick up some of the functions from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the UK Film Council (both NDPBs announced for abolition) it doesn’t appear to have thought through how it might do that with reduced staff and reduced funding.
Q: How have you been able to help so far?
DW: The NCA has responded to events by informing politicians and the press and media about the impact on arts organisations and on local communities. Through campaigns such as I Value the Arts we have been able to alert signatories to potential changes in arts provision taking place on their patch and asking them to attend council meetings or write to their local councillors to outline how they feel about the arts in their area and to articulate their support for the arts. The NCA has also written to local councillors, local MPs and to the Ministers also to bring our concerns to their attention, but ultimately this is an issue where it is important for local citizens and local voters to get engaged.
Q: Are there any events, gatherings or meetings you are organising that you would like to encourage arts lovers to go to?
DW: We will be holding an event on 13 December (more details to be available soon) about the arts and the Big Society, involving Nat Wei, one of the architects of the Big Society, who will outline how he sees this working in relation to artists and arts organisations.
Generally, we would encourage arts lovers to consume as much of the arts locally to them as possible – the old adage of ‘if you don’t use it you’ll lose it’ rings very true now. Be as supportive as possible of local arts events and organisations and where possible, also offer to help and volunteer.
Q: Is your organisation struggling for funding as well?
DW: Yes. The NCA does not receive any Government or public funding to carry out its remit. We are the independent voice of the arts in the UK. Our funding comes from our membership and what we can fundraise. Even though our work is needed now more than ever, we still struggle for funding.
For more information about the NCA please visit www.artscampaign.org.uk
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