UK Arts Rescue Fund Has Paid Out Just Over Half of Money Allocated
A Government fund established last year to support the arts and heritage sectors through lockdowns has only paid out little more than half of the money it has allocated, leaving venues across the country cash-strapped. The Guardian has the story.
The National Audit Office said the culture recovery fund had budgeted for £830 million in grants and loans funding so far, but only £495 million had been paid out.
MPs have responded angrily to the findings, urging the Government to hand over the cash while “there are still organisations left to support”.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced the £1.57 billion fund to help the cultural, arts and heritage institutions survive the pandemic last summer.
It has supported about 3,000 arts organisations in England so far, including venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Southbank Centre in London, and M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
The fund was increased by £300 million in the budget earlier this month, with the Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, saying: “It’s such a relief we can look ahead now so this funding is not just about survival but for planning and preparing for the reopening of theatres, galleries and gigs.”
But auditors have examined the allocation of the funds so far and found that of the £1 billion that has been made available, about £830 million in grants and loans has been awarded to different organisations but only £495 million of that has been paid out, auditors said.
The department has assumed, in the worst-case scenario, that social distancing would remain until the end of March this year, auditors pointed out, and that demand for theatre tickets and venue capacity would remain at 40% of pre-Covid levels.
But the current situation exceeds this worst-case scenario.
Last month, plans for a new 2,000-seat concert hall in London were scrapped due to the impact of lockdowns. Venues across the country have suffered greatly over the last year from the shutting down of the arts. Of course, the best approach from here would be to scrap the “rescue” fund altogether and just let the sector re-open.
Worth reading in full.
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I wonder if Toby and co would mind doing a comparison of lockdowns across Europe? I’d be interested to know just how much schooling has been missed by our children compared to those across the rest of Europe…
The hold-back on support for arts organizations is concerning, given the dire situation faced by many. But it’s not the main issue. I’ve just had a n e-mail circular about this year’s putative Three Choirs Festival. This is worth noting, because it will apply much more widely to events that are being tentatively planned at far too late a date and with very little certainty : “We want you to know that we will continue to follow guidance, restrictions and advice in order to ensure the festival is as safe as possible for our audience, our artists and our staff. Full details on how we are making the festival COVID-safe will be available on our website, 3choirs.org, nearer to the festival.” My immediate reaction was, I guess, similar to that of many others who aren’t in a deep Covid slumber. Something like ‘F. that for a game of soldiers if I’m looking to spend £400+ on tickets.’ I really don’t want to depress myself by trying to enjoy a social and artistic activity in an ant-socially distanced, masked setting. So I shan’t book unless we have the old normality back – and it’s guaranteed. By then, we will be almost eighteen… Read more »
“Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn said he disagreed with the countries suspending the vaccinations.
“From what we know so far, the benefit… is far greater than the risk,” he said.”
very honest of him. ‘what we know so far…..’. Of course what we know might change when they’ve done more testing. I would say we will really know the cost/benefit in 5-10 years