Arts organisations from across Bristol held a demonstration over funding decisions being put on hold until March 2024. The protest called on the city’s mayor to restore funding, saying lack of grant money will have 'hugely damaging consequences' for the city.
Held on College Green in the city centre this morning (Thursday, July 6), the demonstration - led by performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity - saw people gathering from mid-morning before marching on city hall to hand in an open letter.
A statement from Equity said that instead of being told about funding decisions in October last year as planned, arts organisations and major cultural events were told to wait until June this year. But earlier this month, they were notified by email that funding for the organisations - if any- would only be confirmed in March 2024.
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The open letter taken to city hall described this as a 'shock decision' by the mayor which would 'put the work and contracts of many Equity members at risk'. It added that without their members, there would be 'no cultural economy' in the city, which is one of Bristol's most important.
The union statement said: “March next year is only a month before the grant period starts and will mean organisations can’t plan for the future. We have heard from arts organisations that this has the potential to lead to loss of work, income and closures in the interim.”
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The union added that the city’s mayor has put members’ jobs and livelihoods at risk and that it is 'at odds' with Bristol’s One City Plan for Culture. It said: “In contrast, the Mayor is choosing to make arts accessible only to those who can afford it.
“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 of the large 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," said the union.
Local actress and Equity’s south west councillor, Rachael Fagan said: “This is not good enough for the city. Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees has to come clean and explain his decision-making regarding arts funding for Bristol residents and creative workers. His lack of transparency and delayed decisions since October 2022 is harming the cultural fabric of this city.
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“The creative industries are economically important, we are not hobbyists and luvvies but freelance workers, and the creative community in Bristol is being strangled by a lack of funding. To those asking during the cost-of-living crisis why the arts should be funded, the creative economy supports the local economy of Bristol through demand for local services, such as cafes, bars, and shops, and the creative industry places higher demands on suppliers," she said.
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.”
