Harriet Harman MP, Labour’s Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, responding to the announcement of Arts Council England’s funding plans, said:

“This announcement comes as the Arts Council continues to do their best for the arts and culture with a decreasing budget - a cut in grant in aid of 36 per cent since 2010. 

“We welcome the announcement that there are five new Major Partner Museums outside London. But this small shift in funding comes at a challenging time for the arts in the regions given the very difficult funding decisions local authorities are having to make. What the Government is not doing is showing the leadership to have an effective strategy for arts and culture, working with their partners in the sector and in local Government, which reaches beyond London and reaches all young people.”