Bid for Increased Arts Funding through the Comprehensive Spending Review

The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in Northern Ireland takes place in the context of the on going reform of public administration which is bringing about unprecedented changes in the structures for the delivery of public services across central and local government.

This document sets out the Arts Council’s proposal to the CSR for revenue funding for the arts. It includes outline plans supporting submissions previously made by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) on our behalf. Moreover, the proposal has been informed by an extensive consultation process with the arts sector and other key stakeholders as we sought to develop ‘Creative Connections’ - our new five year plan for developing the arts 2007-2012 (see attached Annex). This was completed and launched on 29 January 2007 along with the Council’s 3-year rolling corporate plan. Taken together these 2 documents summarise the Arts Council’s proposals to develop the arts sector over the next 5 years and, in particular, during the period of the CSR.

 

Cahoots - Bedside Theatre

 

Now is the time for the arts in Northern Ireland to receive a more appropriate level of funding and greater equity with other regions in these islands.

• Per capita spend on the arts in Northern Ireland is the lowest across the UK and Ireland. This year, Northern Ireland received £6.13 per head of population compared with Scotland which received £11.93 and the Republic of Ireland the equivalent of £12.61.
• There is a substantial gap between what arts organisations require and what funding has been available. In the last three years alone, arts organisations have faced a shortfall of £5.6m.
• Our individual artists have also received limited support. Over 60% of applications have been turned down primarily due to lack of funds. Those to whom we offer support could genuinely benefit from greater investment.
• Nevertheless, we make a significant contribution to the achievement of government objectives:
• Every £1 currently invested by the Arts Council returns over £3.60 into the local economy.
• Arts funding maintains over 2000 jobs and is a significant contributor to employment within the creative industries sector.
• Our activities support the delivery of the ‘Shared Future’ agenda. Two thirds of arts activity supports cross community participation.
• We support the development of children and young people through a range of innovative programmes. 75,000 school children enjoyed arts workshops last year.
• Arts are good for health and aid recovery. 88% of people surveyed at the Mater Hospital, Belfast said that arts activity was beneficial. In a study in Chelsea & Westminster Hospital it reduced patient stay by one day.
• Northern Ireland ’s poets, writers and musicians have brought the region significant international acclaim including the Nobel Prize for Literature, the International Tchaikovsky Prize and even Oscars.
• Nine new arts centres have been built in the last ten years. With others under development, more investment is required to sustain them.

Therefore:

• We are seeking an increase in funding for the arts of £26m for the 2008-2011 CSR period.
• This extra funding will raise the level of per capita spend to an average of £11.55 per annum over the CSR period; it will introduce near parity funding and end the flat lining of arts funding that started in 2004/05.
• We can return 93% of new funding directly to the arts sector. The Arts Council already achieves excellent value for money by keeping operating costs to a minimum.

The executive summary of the CSR bid may be downloaded in Rich Text or PDF format.

Click here to return to Campaigning for the Arts homepage