Suffolk County Council proposes arts 'funding pot' in cuts U-turn

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber said the arts "have got to be supported"

A council has announced plans to introduce a £500,000 "funding pot" for arts and heritage organisations in a U-turn on funding cuts.

Suffolk County Council decided to cut core arts funding by 100% after the 2024/25 financial year.

Nine organisations currently receive the funding but now the new pot would be open to all in the industry.

Councillor Richard Rout said: "We hugely value the arts and heritage sector."

Mr Rout said the proposed money had been made possible due to the government's announcement of £600m in further funding for local authorities, of which he expects Suffolk to receive £7.2m.

Richard Rout said the council was "proud of our cultural organisations"

The announcement comes less than a week after Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber said the arts cuts were "short-sighted".

"What theatre brings into a town is extraordinary," he said. "Cutting the grants to those sort of theatres is cutting the potential business of the towns themselves."

Dame Judi Dench also condemned the cuts, stating that theatres played a "vital role in the lives of so many".

"The removal of this support is heart breaking," she said. "Regional theatre is the foundation of British theatre and its place in our lives must be protected."

Despite the expected cash injection, the council said it does not alter the difficult decisions they have had to make.