The growing revolt against Arts Council England

The acronym for Arts Council England is rather unfortunate at the moment. The organisation is being accused of many things: being overly close to government, underfunded and blinkered – but nobody thinks it is ace.

Even friendly culture critics are losing patience. As the august arts commentator Richard Morrison recently wrote in the Times: ‘The Arts Council… seems determined to shift public subsidy on to supporting amateurs and community projects.’

Simple purpose has been replaced by a giant strategy paper, Let’s Create, which seems concerned with how ACE can insist on a policy of social engagement, rather than continue as an agency funding a range of professional arts organisations. Companies that still get cash have by and large accepted this, although not without grumbling. There is widespread resentment that the work must still be delivered alongside copious social requirements and wide-ranging community projects while urgent fiscal concerns, including fuel costs, inflation and a still-nervous general public, remain a clear and present danger. ‘We are tempted to refuse our ACE grant and not spend so much time box-ticking,’ one trustee of a tiny choral company told me. Those who did not get their regular grant – and there are a few – are letting loose publicly.

One such company is English National Opera. When its funding was axed in order to force a move out of London, there was a furore. Its respected music director, Martyn Brabbins, resigned in the wake of cuts to the orchestra and chorus, while the overall saga continues to rumble on. The company may move to Manchester, perhaps Birmingham or Liverpool, perhaps not at all. Here’s ENO chairman Dr Harry Brünjes on the matter: ‘Let’s Create focuses on community projects and social enterprise with no focus on the artists or musicians who form the backbone of the organisations ACE supports.