Bristol City Council to scale back arts funding

The chief executive of Bristol Old Vic (BOV) has warned that council cuts are likely to compromise efforts to bridge social and economic divisions in the city.

The theatre is set to lose £188,000 per year under new proposals that will see Bristol City Council’s contributions to arts organisations scaled back from more than £1m in 2017/18 to £727,000 for 2018/19, as part of the wider programme of cost-cutting measures.

Mayor Marvin Rees says the recommendations for the council’s investment in culture will work to support more local arts and community programmes and widen inclusivity and accessibility across the city.

If approved, the proposals being put to cabinet on Monday December 4 will see 33 organisations benefit from council funds, up from 21 last year.

Misfits Theatre Company provides opportunities for people with learning difficulties and works to break down barriers

Recommended first-time recipients include Creative Youth Network, Redfest Bristol, Misfits Theatre Company, Glenside Hospital Museum and Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust.

It is largely the bigger arts and cultural organisations that will be worst hit, with Watershed due to receive £68,000 – down from £36,960, while funding for the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) will drop from £20,992 to £12,000.

Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival is not due to receive any council funding

Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival, which has not previously received council funding, is not due to get any of the £14,000 requested.

Festival producer Colin Gorrie says this recommendation ignores the results the event has achieved and the work it does through education programmes and providing employment for the city’s musicians, composers and technicians.

He added: “The amount of funding invested is much less important than the endorsement that it gives. A charity like ours needs the endorsement of the city to facilitate its fundraising.”

BOVs chief executive Emma Stenning is calling on the mayor to take a lead in supporting arts and culture in the city

As the organisation that will lose out most if the proposals are approved, BOV says the drop in funding from £288,640 to £100,000 per year raises serious challenges and is calling on the mayor to take a lead in helping to securing alternative funding to support the arts across the city.

“Whilst we will always believe reduced arts funding is a backwards step, we recognise that the constraints of austerity have put enormous pressure on Bristol City Council to make widespread cuts in many vital areas,” said BOV chief executive Emma Stenning.

“Our council funding has, hitherto, allowed us to engage with young people from every postcode in the city, to develop projects within communities who have never considered arts and culture as something for them and to support schools with their arts provision after years of cuts within the education system.

“We want not only to continue to do these things, but do more. This will always be our aim and ambition because we belong to this city and it is our duty to provide opportunities for every part of our community.

“The council’s relationship with the arts community in Bristol needs to be about more than just a pay cheque.

“Let’s find new ways to share resources and exchange ideas, and to work with the council to secure the funding that we need to protect our city’s cultural future, and its global reputation as a creative powerhouse.”

The recommendations going to cabinet on Monday are based on the council’s ‘openness’ and ‘imagination’ cultural funds that aim to support the work of arts organisations and provide inclusive, accessible activities.

The mayor is aiming to improve inclusivity and accessibility to arts across the city

Rees said: “The council has a long history of supporting Bristol’s arts and culture sector which, in turn, is a big factor in the city’s global reputation, its economy and in providing opportunities for individuals and communities.

“We face tough financial challenges that means budgets across the council are being reviewed. The reduction in the council’s cultural funds is evidence of this and is part of making sure we can provide essential services whilst continuing to invest in our ambitions for the city.

“Before awarding this remaining funding, cabinet will need to be assured that the recommendations do the best possible job of making arts and culture accessible to all, whilst developing our global reputation as a leading cultural city.”

He promised to work in collaboration and support organisations in identifying funding opportunities.

Watershed’s executive director says arts organisations are increasingly feeling the negative impact of cuts

In a statement, the Watershed sympathised with the difficult financial situation the council is facing, but said the proposed reduction in funding comes at a particularly difficult time, following earlier cuts to the youth services budget which withdrew money from the ground-breaking Rife Magazine.

Watershed’s executive director Miriam Randall said: “It is imperative that we collectively develop new sources of income to sustain and grow Bristol’s vibrant cultural offer.

“World class arts and culture provision in Bristol is key to ensuring the city maintains its position as one of the UK’s most forward thinking, innovative, attractive, creative and dynamic cities.

“Despite our global reach and local engagement finances are always a complex balancing act. It is no secret that public sector austerity is biting hard and these latest cuts from Bristol City Council will mean that we are increasingly feeling the negative impact.”

Main photo: A Bristol Old Vic Young Company production. Photo by Paul Blakemore 

Read more: Bristol’s youth services budget slashed