Performing arts and entertainment union Equity is urging Bristol City Council to drop plans to cut hundreds of thousands of pounds from the arts and culture budget.
Local Equity members have written to Bristol City Council warning that cuts would do significant damage to jobs and cultural activities in Bristol, which is a UNESCO City of Film and famed for its culture offer.
The council’s Finance Sub-Committee will meet this week to consider proposals to make savings and funding cuts across the board. Last week Equity encouraged members who live or work in Bristol to submit a statement to the Council about why culture funding is so important, with lots of members writing directly the Council. Final decisions are due to be made at meetings on 3 and 25 February.
Commenting, Equity President and local Bristol resident Lynda Rooke said: “These cuts would be a disaster for Bristol and inflict significant damage on the local economy.
“Bristol is known as a city of culture, with thousands of jobs based in creative industries and people moving here or visiting for the unique cultural offering available. Local authority funding is worth more than any other source, including from the Arts Council, and once lost it never appears from other sources, however much the Council may wish it to.
“We’re asking Bristol City Council to drop plans for cutting culture funding. Culture cuts would have a detrimental impact both economically and socially, cutting off Bristol’s nose to spite her face.”
The cultural budget falls under the Strategy and Resources Committee which includes several draft proposals for savings under consideration. These include:
- The reduction and closure to new applicants of the Cultural Investment Programme, with the intention to seek alternative funding. The proposal details that the current grantees will be honoured as per their grant agreement. This is estimated to generate a £635,000 saving between now and 2027.
- The closure of Blaise Museum (saving £39,000 by 2027).
- The closure of Georgian House Museum (saving £29,00 by 2027).
- The closure of Red Lodge Museum (saving £64,000 by 2027).
- Reducing the opening hours of the Archives Search Room (saving £35,000 by 2027).
Equity say the proposal regarding the Cultural Investment Programme is especially concerning as it has been the lifeblood of stable funding for arts and cultural activities, festivals and partnerships. Recent beneficiaries include St Paul’s Carnival, Mayfest, Bristol Pride, Knowle West Media Centre, Tobacco Factory, Travelling Light Theatre Company, and dozens of small community arts projects.
New applications for the Cultural Investment Programme were closed in October 2024. The Council says they will seek alternative funding, but there are no details for this, meaning individuals and organisations seeking arts funding will be left without a local government funding option.
This comes just months after Equity demanded that Bristol City Council keep their promise to engage in real and meaningful consultation about the proposed sale of Bottle Yard Studios. Equity has submitted questions and a statement to the Council for consideration at this week’s meeting.
The Strategy and Resources Policy Committee will meet on 3 February and Equity will be organising campaign activity leading up to this meeting. Full council meets to make any final decisions on 25 February.
Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said: “Across the country, councils are having to make difficult financial decisions and Bristol is no exception. We are facing the challenge of a growing financial gap, with a forecasted deficit of £51.6 million in 2025/2026, which is projected to rise to £68.4 million over the next few years if we don’t take action.
“Contrary to some claims, there has not been a “record breaking” settlement from the new Labour Government for Bristol City Council, in fact this settlement is significantly worse when compared with recent financial settlements from the previous government. This means that the amount of money the government have made available to the council per resident is less than all but one of the major UK cities.
“Dealing with that financial reality is not going to be easy and no final decisions have been made on how we will deliver our legal duty to balance the budget.
“A list of saving options is being considered which reflect the need for comprehensive changes to the way the council works internally, with residents, local communities, and with partners to deliver its services.
“Bristol’s identity is one of creativity, diversity and resilience thanks to the highly valued arts and culture sector across the city. We are listening to feedback from residents across Bristol which will inform a draft budget which all councillors will make a decision on in February.
“The next budget agreed by Full Council is a transitional budget, needed to instil a greater level of financial sustainability for Bristol. We want to collaboratively build a happier, greener, and more resilient city, for this to happen we must tackle our finances and put the council on a sounder financial footing.”