Theatres, arts groups and creative event organisers say they may have to close because of a decision to delay the awarding of grant funding from the city council by 18 months.
A group of arts organisations have launched a petition, written an open letter calling out Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees and are planning a demo outside City Hall about their plight, which they said threatens the future of many cultural organisations in the city.
They say the Mayor and Bristol City Council has decided to delay all funding decisions for arts organisations that are normally funded by the council until next year - when they had been waiting since last October for decisions on grants. The council says it "recognises the value of the local sector" but is holding the funds to allow for a redesign of the process.
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The open letter from a group describing themselves as creatives in Bristol, and co-written by Equity, the union for performers and creative practitioners, said the funding delays will have ‘hugely damaging consequences for one of the most important industries in the city’s economy’.
Earlier this month, the Mayor of Bristol launched the latest One City Plan and referenced Bristol’s arts and culture scene as being ‘internationally-recognised’. “Bristol’s culture is internationally recognised for its creativity, vibrancy, diversity, history and innovation across many mediums such as art, theatre, dance, music, TV and film and architecture,” he wrote.
But Equity and theatre groups, arts organisations and those running cultural events in Bristol say a decision to set up a new body to decide on grant funding, which they say won’t make those decisions until March 2024, will badly impact groups that depend on that funding.
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“All funding applicants expected to hear the outcome of their funding applications in October 2022, but you have now told them they have to wait until March 2024 to find out if you will grant them any funding,” the open letter to Mr Rees said.
“This is only a month before the next grant period starts and will mean organisations can’t plan for the future – leading to loss of work, income and closures in the interim. We demand that you restore our arts funding. No delays, no cuts, and no more decision-making from non-transparent 'independent' panels,” it added. “Your shock decision has put the work and contracts of many Equity members at risk."
“Bristol's reputation and success as a film and TV hub exists in the same ecosystem as the rest of the creative sector in the city and cannot be separated from its live performance industry which is now at risk from this delay in funding decisions,” they added.
'Sidelined'
“The Mayor’s claim is that he will give the final decision to an ‘independent panel’, about which he has given no information on the membership or what new process will need to be followed to apply,” the organisers of the petition said. “Mayor Rees has offered no trade union consultation to the relevant culture unions, whilst simultaneously the Mayor’s office have sidelined the Culture Board, a body the Mayor created, which is the only consultative culture body that exists in the city.
“These less than transparent delays and possible cuts will disproportionately impact working class creative workers, and those from minority and oppressed groups. It will have social and cultural implications for all the large Arts organisations in the city and smaller one off artistic projects that work in local communities, from parent and baby groups and schools, to festivals and live events. Leaving access to the arts only to those who can afford it.
“Bristol is a fair, healthy and sustainable city. A city of hope and aspiration, where everyone can share in its success. All of this enabled by Culture, which Mayor Rees is placing at risk with his intervention and reckless decision to delay,” the petition added.
A protest to accompany the petition and the open letter has been organised for City Hall for next week. It will take place on Thursday, July 6 at 10.30am on College Green outside the council headquarters.
Mayor's response
A spokesperson for the Mayor said: “We agree that culture funding recommendations should be made by a transparent, independent body and have instructed officers to redesign the Cultural Investment Programme process to achieve this aim. This year’s funds have been held whilst this work is completed and will be awarded after recommendations are received from an independent panel.
"We have continued to fund culture organisations and rolled over last year’s funding to ensure there were no gaps. Although the council does not have a legal duty to fund the culture and arts in the city, we recognise the value of the local sector and work closely with partners such as the Arts Council to ensure funding is made available and organisations are supported to deliver the city’s world renowned cultural offer," he added.
