There is very little good news coming out of Arts Council England at the moment, particularly with the recent implementation of a 35% cut in grants for the arts - down from £83m to £54m for the year 2007-08. Now, after the catastrophic communication breakdown surrounding the announcement, comes a sign that the Arts Council is trying very hard to listen to the artistic community.
Aware that the whopping cut was unlikely to reduce the number of applications for funding, the Arts Council introduced tighter eligibility controls on access to the cash. One criterion was that any projects awarded a grant must be completed within the same year of the application for funding. As many artists were quick to point out, this was sheer lunacy: arts projects quite simply can't be shoehorned into a financial year just to suit the accountants. The Arts Council has since had a change of heart. The 12-month clause has been rescinded and those whose applications are successful will be able to carry their funding across the years until the project's completion.
This is good news but the Arts Council must work hard to repair the damage done to its reputation. At Shunt's Devoted and Disgruntled meeting last night, it was clear that artists are prepared to back the Arts Council - but only if there is a genuine change in the relationship between the bureaucrats and the artistic community. Artists must know who is making the decisions and on what basis. The Arts Council must also stop trying to dictate the work it wants made and let artists decide for themselves. Instead of the current relationship, which often seems like that of weary parent and fractious toddler, there must be a relationship of equals. Remember: art would continue if there was no Arts Council; an Arts Council cannot exist without artists.
If any good can come out of this recent misery, it's the possibility that crisis can engender change. There must be accessible and protected sources of funding available for emerging and independent artists and companies, and the Arts Council must employ transparency in its future dealings with the artistic community. These won't be easy to achieve, but we must try because the alternative is too catastrophic to contemplate. Despite the loss of trust, it's clear that artists still want to work with the Arts Council. The presence of three Arts Council officers at the meeting was a very welcome sign. Those who want to find out more about what happened at the meeting, and be alerted to future meetings, should email kirstie@improbable.co.uk or actiononartscuts@googlemail.com.
