Arts and sports bodies at risk in funding cuts

Jun 30 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

ARTS and sports groups set up to promote the North East could this week be told they are to be scrapped as part of Government cost-saving, it was claimed last night.

A senior arts boss has voiced fears that the region could lose it specialised voice as ministers at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport consider the results of a review of arts bodies based outside London.

It is feared the report, known as the Hodge review after Arts Minister Margaret Hodge, could recommend some arts bodies merge while others disband regional offices in a bid to prevent what the Government views as costly duplication in the cultural sector.

Culture North East, the region’s cultural consortium set up in to champion arts from Northumberland down to Teesside, is one organisation worrying for its future.

Sports England, which has a branch in the region, will also be judged by the Hodge Review. It comes as separate fears continue that a series of efficiency savings forced on to the Arts Council will see a reduction in the level of dedicated support for the North East.

Louise Wylie, communications director for the national Arts Council, said the Government-ordered 15% savings would not affect funding levels for arts projects, but could not say what impact if any it would have for staffing levels.

David Faulkner, deputy leader of Newcastle Council and a board member at Culture North East, said there were genuine concerns that Tyneside’s cultural revival would be jeopardised by Government cuts.

He said: “We are concerned that the Hodge review will mean the regional cultural consortiums disappear.

“They may have a relatively small staff but they play a vital role in bringing everyone together for the good of the region.

“And yet despite a lot of hard work, it is almost certainly going to disappear.

“The worst possible scenario as a result of the review is we lose all our specialist voices set up to promote the region and are instead left with help and advice sent from London. We will be doing everything we can to ensure the voice of culture can still be heard in the North East, because this is not just about arts projects, it has huge implications for our economy which has done very well out of tourism increasing as a result of the cultural changes we have witnessed.”

The review started last year as the Government looked again at the various arts bodies with a presence outside the capital to see what changes could save money and make the organisations more efficient.

A spokeswoman for Sports England said there were likely to be some structural changes following a review, but was unable to say what the results would mean for regional offices.

A Government spokesman said the review was currently with ministers who are set to make their final decision this week.

He said: “The purpose of the review was to see how arts bodies operating outside London can be refocused to better serve the people they are working for.”