“Councils are uniquely placed to build on community strengths in partnership with Arts Council England, and the greatest impact can be achieved through locally-led culture facilities, including museums, libraries and arts organisations."
Responding to Arts Council England’s 10-Year Strategy, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said:
“We are pleased to see Arts Council England recognising the role of culture in building and sustaining communities and confirming the central importance of local authorities in place-making.
“This marks a significant and important shift in Arts Council England thinking.
“Councils are uniquely placed to build on community strengths in partnership with Arts Council England, and the greatest impact can be achieved through locally-led culture facilities, including museums, libraries and arts organisations.
“The promise of greater investment in museums and libraries is encouraging. The LGA has argued strongly for their vital role as cultural infrastructure, and for the need to invest in communities and everyday creativity, to be recognised.
“We look forward to continuing our work with Arts Council England on the delivery of this strategy, establishing new ways of providing leadership to the cultural sector and securing long-term funding for cultural services.”
Notes to editors
As part of the LGA’s wider sector-led improvement offer, it provides opportunities for councils to participate in an Arts Council England funded peer challenge of their cultural or library services. A peer challenge of their cultural or library service helps councils to consider a new delivery model, explore new partnerships, or to strengthen strategic links between those services and other councils services.