Sir Peter Bazalgette: 'We need to do more' to fund regional arts

The chairman of Arts Council England has acknowledged that there is an "imbalance" in the funding of English theatres and the arts.

A new report says arts organisations in London receive almost £70 of government funding per head, three times the amount that is available to regional groups. London theatres also benefit from the majority of benevolent giving and sponsorship, adding to the discrepancy.

Sir Peter Bazalgette told the Today programme's John Humphrys that the trend is towards more spending in the regions, but accepted that "we need to do more".

He commented that many London-based arts organisations tour to venues outside of London and do "great things" for the rest of the UK.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday 31st October 2013.