Arts union calls on council to drop funding cuts

Bristol Pride has been a recent beneficiary of the Cultural Investment Programme

Bristol City Council has been warned that cutting funding for arts projects would be "a disaster" for the city.

Local Equity union members have written to the authority warning that cuts would do significant damage to jobs and cultural activities in the city.

The council's finance sub-committee met last week to consider proposals to make savings and funding cuts across the board.

Council leader and Green Party representative Tony Dyer said the council would face bankruptcy if it could not close the financial gap and therefore needed to make tough decisions.

Speaking to the sub-committee, Equity president Lynda Rooke said the cuts would be a "disaster" for the city and risk creating a "cultural desert", the Local Democracy Service reports.

"Cuts mean jobs will disappear and the creative workforce will be forced to leave the city and search elsewhere for opportunities," she said.

"It's pie in the sky if you think some knight in shining armour is going to come riding through and offer substitute funding – it doesn't exist."

Leader Tony Dyer said Bristol City Council's financial situation is "challenging"

Mr Dyer said the plan was to temporarily close three museums in the city, whose visitor numbers are a tiny fraction of those compared to M Shed and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

He said all existing grant commitments for cultural groups, through the Cultural Investment Programme, would be honoured but the money would be phased out over the next three years, ultimately saving £635,000 a year.

Recent beneficiaries of the such grants included Mayfest, Bristol Pride, Knowle West Media Centre and Travelling Light Theatre Company.

'No final decisions'

Some councillors have expressed alarm at the proposals, branding them "nuts".

Councillor Tim Kent said: "There must be better options than just saying we are going to lock the doors on the museums.

"That doesn't make the costs go away for those buildings or having to look after those collections."

In a statement, Mr Dyer told the BBC councils were having to make difficult decisions "across the country".

He said: "We are facing the challenge of a growing financial gap, with a forecasted deficit of £51.6m in 2025/2026, which is projected to rise to £68.4m over the next few years if we don't take action.

"Dealing with that financial reality is not going to be easy and no final decisions have been made on how we will deliver our legal duty to balance the budget."

Final decisions are due to be made at council meetings on 3 and 25 February.