ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND’S GRANT PROGRAM SHIFTS FOCUS FROM LONDON TO REGIONS

The Arts Council England’s first major grant program since former Tate director Nicholas Serota’s appointment as director of the organization in February indicates that more funding will be allocated in support of regions, Martin Bailey of the Art Newspaper reports.

The National Portfolio has allocated $530 million a year for the next four years to 831 arts organizations—a 12 percent increase from the current fiscal year. Fifty-eight million dollars will support the visual arts, $48 million will support museums, and the remainder will be divided between theater, music, and dance.

In order to address concerns about overspending in London and the uneven distribution of funds in the regions, the Arts Council will increase the regions spending from 56 percent to 60 percent. It is also asking major cultural centers such as the Royal Opera House, Southbank Center, the Royal National Theater, and the Royal Shakespeare Company “to do more to support the rest of the sector”—all four organizations accepted a 3 percent reduction so that more monies can be allocated to smaller arts organizations outside of London.

The Arts Council also intends to tackle issues of diversity by working towards increasing the number of leadership roles filled by disabled people and BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) groups.