Bristol council scraps proposed cuts to arts funding
Cultural Investment Programme to be safeguarded for the next three years
Proposed cuts to Bristol City Council’s Cultural Investment Programme will no longer go ahead, protecting arts funding in the city for the next three years.
The £635,000 annual programme supports cultural organisations and individuals across Bristol in delivering events, activities, and festivals. Budget plans for the next financial year scheduled to begin in April 2024 suggested the funding might be reduced, with alternative contributions potentially coming from property developers.
Equity, the performing arts and entertainment trade union, led protests against the cuts, including a demonstration outside City Hall in November. A joint open letter signed by cultural leaders from major organisations such as Aardman, the Watershed, the Beacon, the Old Vic, and the Balloon Fiesta highlighted their concerns.
A trade union victory
Equity president Lynda Rooke said that the decision was a relief for Bristol’s cultural sector.
“An annual £635,000 budget made up a tiny proportion of the tens of millions of pounds needed to balance their books, yet would have had a devastating effect on Bristol’s cultural ecosystem," Rooke said.
She added that while the funding is safe for the next three years, creatives still face challenges due to insecure funding streams and underscored that Equity’s Bristol & West of England branch would continue to fight for arts funding in the city.
Cultural sector recognised
The decision to protect funding followed discussions and consultations with residents and cultural organisations about key areas of the council's budget. The council’s culture lead, Green Councillor Ani Townsend, emphasised the city’s long-standing commitment to local arts and the benefits of a thriving cultural sector.
Townsend said: “This decision reaffirms our commitment to our culture sector and our ongoing promise to listen and act where we can."
She highlighted contributions the arts make to Bristol’s economy, reputation, and community connections and added that partnerships with local organisations and national bodies such as the Arts Council will remain central to achieving sustainability in the city’s cultural environment.