Over £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector in major boost for growth
In a landmark announcement, the government has unveiled a substantial funding package aimed at revitalising arts and culture across the nation. The initiative, known as the Arts Everywhere Fund, will distribute over £270 million to hundreds of arts venues, museums, libraries, and heritage buildings. This significant investment is designed to support jobs, enhance creative learning opportunities for young people, and foster a sense of pride in local communities.
The funding will be specifically targeted at organisations in dire need of financial support to maintain their operations, undertake essential infrastructure work, and improve long-term financial resilience. This move is expected to safeguard hundreds of jobs in the cultural and heritage sectors, which currently support a total of 666,000 jobs nationwide.
Arts and culture are integral to the UK’s world-class creative industries, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic success. The creative industries are worth £124 billion to the UK economy, generating employment opportunities and showcasing British talent globally. Recognising their potential to drive economic growth, the creative industries were identified as one of the eight key sectors in the government’s Industrial Strategy.
Arts and culture help us understand the world we live in; they shape and define society and are enjoyed by people in every part of our country
Lisa Nandy, Culture Secretary
In a special event marking the 60th anniversary of the first-ever arts white paper by former Minister Jennie Lee, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will address leaders from the arts and culture sectors at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon. Nandy will outline how Lee’s vision of making the arts accessible to everyone, everywhere, will be realised through the government’s Plan for Change.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy commented, “Arts and culture help us understand the world we live in; they shape and define society and are enjoyed by people in every part of our country. They are the building blocks of our world-leading creative industries and make a huge contribution towards boosting growth and breaking down barriers to opportunities for young people to learn the creative skills they need to succeed.”
The funding package for the next financial year, beginning in April, includes several key initiatives. A new £85 million Creative Foundations Fund will support urgent capital works to keep venues across the country operational. A fifth round of the popular Museum Estate and Development Fund, worth £25 million, will support museums in undertaking vital infrastructure projects and addressing urgent maintenance backlogs. A new £20 million Museum Renewal Fund will help keep cherished civic museums open, protect opening hours and jobs, and continue serving communities.
An additional £15 million for Heritage at Risk will provide grants for repairs and conservation to heritage buildings at risk, with a focus on sites in most need. A fourth round of the Libraries Improvement Fund, worth £5.5 million, will enable public library services across England to upgrade buildings and technology to better meet changing user needs. A new £4.85 million Heritage Revival Fund will empower local people to take control of and manage their local heritage, supporting community organisations to restore neglected heritage buildings.
An additional £120 million will continue the Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund, ensuring national cultural public institutions can address essential works to their estate. A 5% increase in the budgets of all national museums and galleries will support their financial resilience and enhance access to the national collection. Confirmation of £3.2 million in funding for four cultural education programmes for the next financial year will preserve increased access to arts for children and young people through initiatives like the Museums and Schools Programme, the Heritage Schools Programme, the Art & Design National Saturday Club, and the BFI Film Academy.
This comprehensive package is expected to catalyse growth in the creative industries and local economies by supporting cultural venues to reach their full potential and attracting more tourists through cultural institutions.
The Culture Secretary will also confirm the advisory panel of experts supporting Baroness Margaret Hodge’s independent review of Arts Council England, outlining the scope of the review within the newly agreed Terms of Reference. Additionally, the beneficiaries of the fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund will be announced, with 29 local museums across the UK receiving a share of nearly £25 million to upgrade their facilities.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced £67 million in funding for ten critical culture projects across the UK. This includes the National Railway Museum in York, the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum in Liverpool, and the National Poetry Centre and the revamping of ‘Temple Works’ in Leeds, which will house the British Library North.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said, “Our Plan for Change promises growth for every corner of the UK, which is why I announced more than £67 million for ten major cultural projects that celebrate our nation. These projects will play a crucial role in igniting regeneration in their communities and on a national scale, leading to more tourism, more growth, and more money in people’s pockets.”
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