This week, the classical music news has been dominated by articles concerning arts funding. Here is a summary of the latest developments and who has been talking about the changes which could have such a great impact on the creative industries.

Earlier in the week….

The BBC reported George Osborne’s announcement, “Culture is one of the best investments we can make.”

The Department for Culture Media and Sport’s (DCMS) overall budget is to be cut by 5% – far less than some feared; the administration budget will be cut by 20% and entrance to national museums will remain free.

Arts Professional declared that Arts Council England’s grant is expected to rise by between 1-2% over the next five years.

The settlement will enable the Arts Council to invest in it’s 684 national museums, galleries, theatres, dance, opera and ballet companies at the same level until at least 2018.

Classical Music Magazine reports that the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, has announced the reinstatement of funding for arts and sports in Northern Ireland.

Today…..

Classical Music Magazine is concerned that the BBC’s funding will be cut again.

The BBC is the biggest employer of professional musicians and spends approximately £125m per year on music including musicians, composers, orchestras and collective management organisations. Isabelle Gutierrez writes that the licence fee remains the most effective way of maintaining funding. Many jobs in the creative industries are put at risk with each funding round, which does not increase the licence fee in line with inflation. The latest funding deal, agreed in July 2015, reduces BBC funding by making it responsible for the costs of free TV licences to the over-75s, cutting £750m a year from income by 2020.

On a positive note….

Arts professional discussed the UK Cities Culture Report 2015, which demonstrates that cities view culture as key to high quality of life; it also boosts tourism.

The report notes that cities are increasingly committed to using culture as a catalyst for regeneration, either because culture is “an engine for skill enhancement” or because it can “create a ‘sense of place’ which will encourage companies to relocate and enable a city to attract talent”. They are also recognising the value of culture in promoting “tolerance, equality and diversity”. As we head towards devolution, cities are collaborating with their cultural sectors in order to source funding.

Sign the #LetItBe campaign to protect the wonderful music services provided by the BBC!