Art for diversity’s sake

There have long been complaints that the arts in London receive a disproportionate amount of public subsidy at the expense of the regions. In its latest allocation of funds, Arts Council England has tried to rectify this imbalance by spending an additional £42.5 million outside the capital from 2018. The big losers are the National Theatre, Southbank Centre, the Royal Opera House and the Royal Shakespeare Company, which between them will lose £2.5 million.

Arguably these world-class venues are able to absorb the financial hit, probably by putting up ticket prices and attracting new commercial sponsorship. Unlike regional centres, London audiences are also boosted by the vast number of tourists, and high-quality productions will always be able to attract customers. As Sir Nicholas Serota, head of the council, said, while other parts of the country need more funding, London can thrive at the same time. Getting the balance right is what matters.

Sir Nicholas, the former director of the Tate, has a good record here, having established Tate offshoots around the country in such unlikely venues as Margate, thereby boosting tourism in an otherwise ailing seaside town.

There is, however, another reason behind the funding shift – greater support for “diverse” arts groups. This means black and ethnic minority companies as well as disabled and gay and lesbian groups. It is all well and good seeking to help organisations that might otherwise find it hard to attract sponsorship, but quality matters, too. The Arts Council must beware falling into the trap of supporting diversity for its own sake rather than for the sake of the art itself.