Introduction
Arts Council England is the national arts development body for the arts in England. It has a national office in London and nine regional offices whose boundaries correlate with the Regional Development Agencies across the country.
Its investment supports the national arts infrastructure of theatres, art galleries, dance companies, arts centres across the country, as well as supporting the creativity and development of artists at all stages of their careers. Arts Council England is also the distributor of arts Lottery funds used for investing in organisations, arts buildings and projects and helping to build audiences and access to the arts across the country.
Government has also invested over £70 million through the Arts Council to develop creativity in schools. Creative Partnerships works to give school children in disadvantaged areas throughout England the opportunity to develop their potential, their ambition, their creativity and imagination through sustainable partnerships
with creative and cultural organisations, businesses and individuals.
Aims
Arts Council England has a central belief that the arts have the power to transform lives, communities and opportunities for people throughout the country. To achieve this the priorities for 2003 –2006 were:
- The individual artist
- Arts organisations – thriving not surviving
- Young people and education
- Cultural Diversity
- Growth
Structure
The Regional Arts Councils membership is split between representatives of local or regional government and independent members who work or have extensive interest in the arts. This ensures that each council has a balance of management, finance, arts, marketing, education and local community skills and knowledge.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport appoints members of National Council. Council members are usually appointed for four years, and may be reappointed for a further term of four years. Council meets approximately five times a year.
Council members are responsible for ensuring the organisation meets and achieves it’s objectives, which are to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts, and to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public. They do this by deciding on policy and priorities, and investing money in artists and arts organisations directly and through the Regional Arts Councils.
Each Regional Council has an Executive Director who sits on the national executive inputting into the strategic planning for the organisation. They are supported by a team of specialist staff in each region, covering arts specialisms, as well as cross cutting expertise such as resource development, cultural diversity, social inclusion, audience development and communications.
Activities
The regional arts councils are responsible for:
- Agreement and delivery of regional strategies, ensuring all plans and priorities for regional arts development work within the framework of national policies and priorities
- Developing and instigating three year regional investment plans
- Agreement of detailed regional annual budgets (including all grants over £25,000 for named, funded organisations)
Contact
Culture Action Europe contact: Antonia Byatt
Arts Council England, East Midlands
14 Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 3NQ
UK
Tel: +44 115 989 7595 (Direct line)
Fax: +44 115 950 2467
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.artscouncil.org.uk |
