Exeter and Cheltenham lead the way in investment in arts, museums and heritage in the South West

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) has published figures for the South West as part of its 50p for Culture campaign which aims to safeguard and increase local authority investment in arts, museums and heritage. 

The campaign brings together new research, data analysis and a website (www.50pforculture.org) where residents in England can find out how much local authorities plan to spend on culture in their area this year.

In a recent poll by Ipsos MORI co-commissioned by the NCA, 63% of people - almost two thirds - said they believed that even in these difficult financial times, local authorities should be investing at least 50p per person per week in arts, museums and heritage.  Only 12% said local authorities should invest nothing.

Using official data produced by the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Office for National Statistics, the NCA calculates that the actual average budgeted net spend across England in 2013/14 was just 16p per person per week.  In 2011/12 the figure was 18p and in 2010/11 it was 20p.  On average, of every £1 invested by a local authority, less than half a penny (0.5%) goes to support arts, museums and heritage.

The average in the South West is just 10p per person per week.  However there are some Councils who are among the best in the country.  Exeter, Cheltenham, Bristol, Swindon and Weymouth and Portland all invest 20p or more per person per week. 

Bath and North East Somerset is a very rare local authority that uses income from their cultural assets to support other areas of cultural provision.  As the official figures that are quoted are for net expenditure by local authorities (excluding expenditure funded by admission charges, ticket sales, additional grants, etc.), the actual level of support for culture by these authorities is not shown by the statistics.

Some areas in the South West have two tiers of local government and the 50p for Culture website shows the investment for both the county and the district in these areas.  Somerset and Dorset invest 3p per person per week, Devon 1p and Gloucestershire did not report any planned investment at all. 

The NCA is encouraging people in the South West who care about culture to visit www.50pforculture.org, and enter their postcode to find out the level of investment in their area; depending on whether that level is low, average or high they can then send an appropriate message – of encouragement, steadfastness or praise - to their local representatives.  The website will also keep monitoring planned changes in investment by every local authority and highlight those who are cutting culture disproportionately.

Actor and director Samuel West is Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts.  He said: "We know town and county halls are facing tough choices as they try to balance their books.  In the last five years, many of them have seen culture as an easy target, and chosen to cut it disproportionately. The research we have commissioned shows that far from being a minority concern this is something their constituents really care about: most people - almost two thirds – want local authority culture funding to triple.

"Because investment levels are so small – less than half a penny in every pound - cutting them won’t balance the books.  Instead, it will make independent cultural organisations unsustainable and could make the UK cultural desert spread. 

"This survey shows that nearly 90% of those responding want some local authority support of the arts. As we approach local elections on 22nd May, it’s good to remind ourselves that local authorities have a long and proud history of bringing culture to their communities and have played a major part in making the UK a world leader in the creative industries.  Good, affordable art should be a part of the nourishing meal we serve our citizens. Access to it should not be a postcode lottery, or depend on people being rich.  Locally and nationally, we have a lot to lose if culture continues to be cut at the levels we are seeing.

"Of course, the amount of investment in an area isn’t always the same thing as the vibrancy of cultural life in that area, and there are occasional anomalies within the official data which obscure significant support being made by some authorities. Nevertheless, we want the 50p for Culture campaign to be the beginning of a dialogue with local authorities; we would like all local politicians and officers to value culture as much as their constituents obviously do."

The 50p for Culture campaign is being led by the National Campaign for the Arts, which is now run by a small unpaid board and a number of other volunteers. In-kind design support and web development were provided by Cog Design and Tin Can. Accounting support from MacIntyre Hudson. The Ipsos MORI research was co-commissioned by the NCA, UK Theatre Association, Equity, The Stage and the Museums Association.  Other campaign supporters include the Society of London Theatre, Making Music, Independent Theatre Council and the National Museums Directors' Council.