‘Valuable’ culture budgets slashed as financial pressures grow

Councils remain the biggest funders of arts and culture in England despite dedicated budgets reducing by nearly £500 million since the onset of austerity, according to a report.

Analysis by the County Councils Network (CCN) found it was “extremely hard” for councils to avoid slashing budgets for cultural services including libraries, tourism and support for the arts due to the rising costs of social care in particular.