Arts Council ‘wastes’ £126m of taxpayer money on political groups
‘Money is given to groups that campaign against the policies of a democratically elected government’
THE Arts Council has been accused of handing an annual £126million of taxpayer cash to politically motivated groups.
More than a fifth of groups chosen as “national portfolio organisations” by the quango last month are engaged in campaigns around contentious issues such as Black Lives Matter.
This means the 191 organisations in question will receive a combined £126 million a year from the Arts Council, and more than £500million across a four-year funding period, analysis by Conservative Way Forward showed.
Recipients include the Beacon Collaborative, which will receive £163,333 a year, and seeks to “support organisations addressing intersectional oppression”, and the Crafts Council – set to pocket £2 million annually – which is looking at “challenges to women of colour in craft spaces and on social media”.
Sadler’s Wells, which is to receive more than £2million a year, described Black Lives Matter as “an overdue acceleration of global anti-racist efforts”.
Tara Theatre got £422,000 to carry out projects, including Unconscious? Exploring Bias in UK Theatre, which inspect “bias, stereotyping and discrimination in the creative industries”.
Apples and Snakes, in receipt of £463,000 per year, has also supported politically motivated causes.
These include a “vigil for black girls and boys dehumanised in our education and policing system”.
Last year it launched its first podcast series, which focuses on black British poets, and said it would “no longer be using the acronym ‘Bame’ – rather, we will describe members of our community and audience as ‘racially, ethnically and culturally diverse’.”
Tory MPS rounded on the funding allocations as Jacob Rees-mogg, the former business secretary, said: “There is a problem with government grant giving.
“Money is given with almost no accountability to groups that then campaign against the policies of a democratically elected government. This makes no sense and needs to be stopped.”
Tim Loughton, the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, accused the Arts Council of “wasting taxpayers’ money on these appalling political projects”.
“We cannot continue to ask our constituents to make the sort of sacrifices we are expecting them and their families to make if the Government can’t get its own act together to tighten up this sort of waste.”
A spokesman for the Arts Council England said: “We have offered funding to 990 organisations the length and breadth of England, from the Royal Shakespeare Company to the Royal Opera House, and Paraorchestra to the National Football Museum; however, we are not involved in how those organisations operate day to day or what they choose to programme for audiences.”