Historic Venues at Risk
Museums, galleries, theatres, and cultural institutions across England have faced increasing financial challenges due to years of funding cuts and rising costs. Between 2010 and 2023, core funding for UK arts and cultural organisations fell by 18%, leaving many venues struggling to stay open. The latest funding package aims to address these urgent issues, preventing closures and safeguarding cultural assets for future generations.
Funding Breakdown
The funding package, termed the Arts Everywhere Fund, comprises several distinct allocations. Seventeen major national museums, including the British Museum and the National Gallery, will receive a 5% increase in their annual grants, amounting to more than £15 million. In addition, an £85 million Creative Foundations Fund has been introduced to support essential capital projects, ensuring buildings remain safe and functional.
For regional museums, the government has allocated a £20 million Museum Renewal Fund, recognising the crucial role local institutions play in communities. This follows warnings from organisations such as the English Civic Museums Network, which highlighted the financial pressures forcing many smaller museums to consider drastic measures, including selling collections or closing altogether.
A further initiative, the £4.85 million Heritage Revival Fund, has been established to help community organisations own and restore neglected heritage buildings. This fund aims to preserve historic sites while empowering local groups to take ownership of cultural assets that might otherwise fall into disrepair or be lost altogether.
Emphasising the necessity of this funding, Nandy stated. “Anyone who has visited a local theatre recently will have seen buckets on the floor catching drips. This investment will shore up those institutions at risk of closure and ensure our cultural spaces remain accessible for all,”
An independent review of Arts Council England has also been confirmed. Led by Baroness Margaret Hodge and supported by an advisory panel of experts, the review will evaluate current funding practices across the United Kingdom. Further details regarding the review are expected in forthcoming communications.
Supporting Arts Education
Beyond immediate financial support, the government has committed £3.2 million to arts education initiatives, aiming to strengthen access to creative learning for young people. This funding will support four key cultural education programmes over the next financial year:
• The Museums and Schools Programme
• The Heritage Schools Programme
• The Art & Design National Saturday Club
• The BFI Film Academy
These initiatives aim to improve arts education and engagement, ensuring that children and young people continue to benefit from creative opportunities despite the long-term decline in arts-focused school funding.
“The last decade has been disastrous for the arts,” Nandy said. “We’ve seen a narrowing of the curriculum, government ministers branding arts subjects ‘Mickey Mouse’ subjects, and the number of students taking arts GCSEs has dropped by nearly 50%.”
Nandy went on to highlight the contradiction in devaluing arts education at a time when major global players like Warner Bros, Amazon, and Disney are investing heavily in the UK’s creative industries. Hertfordshire, in particular, has become a hub for film and television production, with major studios such as Elstree, Leavesden (home to Warner Bros), and Sky Studios Elstree expanding their operations in the region. The area has been pivotal in producing blockbuster franchises and high-end TV series. With a growing demand for UK-based productions, the need for skilled workers in film, television, and other creative industries has never been greater.
This announcement also emphasises the economic importance of these investments. Cultural institutions sustain 666,000 jobs nationwide, while creative industries contribute £124 billion to the national economy.
Concerns over scope and longevity
While the funding has been welcomed, some industry figures have criticised its scope. The Night Time Industries Association has pointed out that contemporary and countercultural creative spaces have been largely excluded. Chief Executive Michael Kill argued that “Once again, the government has placed traditional and heritage culture at the forefront while completely ignoring the vital creative spaces that fuel
innovation, inspire younger generations, and contribute significantly to our
economy.”
As cultural organisations begin to access these new funds, questions also remain about long-term sustainability. While the rescue package provides essential short-term relief, a broader commitment to stable funding and strategic investment in the wider arts landscape will be needed to ensure the cultural sector thrives beyond this emergency intervention.
References
Gov.uk, 2025. Major investment to boost growth and cement Britain’s place as cultural powerhouse. [Accessed 27 Feb 2025]
BBC News, 2025. Struggling English museums, galleries and theatres get £270m rescue fund from government. [Accessed 27 Feb. 2025]
The Art Newspaper, 2025. UK government aims to keep cash-strapped cultural venues ‘up and running’ with £270m funding package. [Accessed 27 Feb. 2025]
