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Despite rising demand for services and central government funding reductions, councils continue to be the biggest investors in culture, bringing communities across the country together.

"This funding demonstrates that the Government have heard our calls for greater recognition of the vital role that libraries play in helping businesses to innovate and grow."

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, responds to Arts Council England’s announcement to provide £160 million for the cultural sector.

“We urge Sport England to work with the Government to also secure grant funding for these organisations."

The coronavirus outbreak poses serious risks to the country’s network of cultural organisations unless there is a joined-up approach to supporting them, the Local Government Association and Arts Council England set out today.

Responding to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s £50 million funding announcement for heritage sites, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “We are pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund have provided much needed funding at this difficult time for heritage organisations, who face the additional challenge of high maintenance costs for their buildings during the current closures. "It is also positive that it recognises how investing in the ROSS network will help both heritage organisations, and provide work for hundreds of freelancers. "Preserving

"Councils want to keep parks open, but people need to follow the social distancing advice."

“Many council-owned libraries have experienced an increase of more than 600 per cent in new registered members since the Government’s mandated lockdown."

Excluding councils from the Government’s newly created Cultural Renewal Taskforce removes the local voice on cultural renewal, the Local Government Association warns. 

"We agree that councils must be fully funded and have local flexibility to deliver any scheme that aims to provide additional support and services to vulnerable children and young people over the summer."