Newcastle arts and culture budget cut by 50%

Newcastle’s arts and culture budget has been slashed by 50%, cutting funding for the Theatre Royal among others.

Following the setting of a new budget on Wednesday the City Council has decided to scrap their £1.2m arts grant in favour of a new Culture Fund.

The new £600,000 per year fund will be made available to arts organisations across Newcastle.

Cultural venues, such as the Theatre Royal, Northern Stage, Live Theatre, and Seven Stories currently receive council funding, but the new cuts mean these venues will see their subsidies scrapped.

The new, reduced, fund was a joint development from the council and the Arts Council England North East.

Newcastle City Council leader Cllr Nick Forbes met national Arts Council chair Sir Peter Bazalgette and North East Regional Council Chair, Joe Docherty, in Newcastle on Monday to agree the final touches to the Newcastle Culture Fund.

Peter Bazalgette, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “We recognise the pressures Newcastle City Council has been facing.

“The Arts Council is grateful for the way in which the City Council has worked closely with us to broker this new funding package for key cultural venues.

“But, of course, a 50 per cent cut to the culture budget still means serious economic and social impact for Newcastle and beyond.”

It comes in the wake of public outcry at Newcastle’s budget proposal to reduce subsidies for cultural organisations by 100%.

The £600,000 funding comes from a range of sources including public health funding as well as income from council investments.

Newcastle City Council are also pursuing a partnership with Newcastle University in which shared services between the two institutions will generate new savings, which will then be reinvested in city culture.

The fund will be developed with the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, a Newcastle-based charity that will to grow the fund from individual donors and the business sector.

It will also have an independent panel established by the Community Foundation.

Community Foundation chief executive Rob Williamson, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Council to develop this fund and its independent panel.

“Cultural philanthropy has been a cornerstone of our work since we first supported the project to keep the Royal Shakespeare Company coming to Newcastle over 22 years ago.

“This fund, alongside our Arts Council supported North East Fund for the Arts, will continue to bring innovative support to this crucial sector.”

The council is also starting-up a capital fund that makes loans available to arts organisations to finance projects, including building extensions and building improvements.

Cllr Forbes said: “I’m tremendously excited by the progress made on the Newcastle Culture Fund. It’s an example of what can be achieved when organisations like ourselves, the Arts Council and cultural venues come together and think differently.

“We are on the final straight, and if full council agrees the plan later this week, we should be able to get the fund running within two months.

“The value of arts and culture to Newcastle has never been in doubt; what has been in doubt is the funding to support them. This new approach not only provides that security, but means those who wish can also make a contribution.”

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