Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Paul Bristow, Director, Helen Parrott, Senior Manager, and Laura Dyer, MBE, Deputy Chief Executive, to the meeting and invited Laura to present a series of slides to Members of the Board. The slides set out the following:

·       Background information related to the role of Arts Council England (ACE), current priorities and the effect that the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic had had on ACE and the cultural sector.

·       ACE’s ‘Let’s Create’ ten-year strategy which had been published in January 2020 and the strategy’s vision: “by 2030, we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences”.

·       ACE’s delivery plan for 2021-24 and it’s five themes:

-        Building a ‘fit for the future’ cultural sector

-        Strengthening place-based approaches and supporting levelling-up

-        Increasing support for individuals

-        Helping the cultural sector to work internationally

-        How the Arts Council will change

·       ACE’s new strategy

·       Strengthening partnership working arrangements between ACE and local government and the LGA

·       ACE’s future plans

Board Members made the following comments:

• A question was asked which related to the availability of grants from the Arts Council to community libraries to broaden their appeal as community hubs and in turn, make them more viable financially.
• A question was asked which related to the support that councillors could offer to the Arts Council.
• Board Members commended the excellent joint-working relationship between the LGA and the Arts Council and the positive senior representation from the Arts Council at CTS Board meetings.
• A question was asked which related to ACE’s ‘Let’s Create’ strategy and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) measures.
• In light of the upcoming meeting between CTS Lead Members and Lord Parkinson, a Lead Member asked whether there were any reflections on the relationship between the Arts Council and DCMS and anything that could be fed back to Lord Parkinson.
• The enhanced relationship between the LGA, ACE, local government and DCMS was supported, as well as the review of the joint statement. A Board Member suggested strengthening the joint statement in relation to the approach to national policy.
• A Board Member referred to the ACE’s delivery plan for 2021-24 and it’s five themes and suggested that the review around governance, the role of Boards and of trustees in mobilising and enabling the sector itself, be emphasised.
• A Board Member requested a conversation with ACE’s officers offline in relation to targeting underfunded areas.
• Board Members requested that the presentation slides be circulated.

Laura and Paul responded to Board Members’ comments:

• In relation to the availability of grants from the Arts Council to community libraries, Laura confirmed that grants could be offered at a lower level whereby individual services could think about how best to develop the programmes and deliver a wider cultural offer.
• With regards to the help and support that councillors could provide to the Arts Council, Laura said that early conversations were vital in ensuring that Arts and Culture sectors delivered to the broadest agenda for local government.
• In relation to inclusivity within the ACE’s ‘Let’s Create’ strategy, Laura confirmed that EDI and accessibility would be key. Whilst a focus on formal protected characteristics would continue, there was a significant socioeconomic challenge in relation to broadening reach and engagement with communities and ensuring continued representation in ACE’s Boards, staff and content.
• Laura said that ACE’s relationship with DCMS was positive, specifically in relation to the Levelling-Up White Paper and the Spending Review and contributions to those agendas. Paul added that the perspective of local government was much valued and that conversations with DCMS from both the LGA and ACE should align. He said that the focus on place and the capacity of places should be emphasised going forward for levelling-up and making the most of opportunities.

Laura reassured Board Members that the Arts Council often liaised with government officials about co-dependence with local government, especially in relation to the Spending Review.

Decision:

• Members of the Board noted the report.

Action:

• Officers to share the presentation slides with Members of the Board.