GovWire

• Review will explore how to improve access to arts and culture in all areas of the country to drive access to opportunity
• Former Culture Minister Baroness Margaret Hodge appointed as lead reviewer

An independent review of Arts Council England (ACE) will launch in the new year to ensure every region across the country has access to high-quality arts and culture.

Baroness Margaret Hodge, a former Minister of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, has been appointed by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to lead the review aided by an advisory panel featuring experts from across the arts and cultural sectors.

The Terms of Reference will be agreed and published in due course, however, key priorities of the review will include:

• Exploring ACEs role in supporting excellence across the country, ensuring that everyone is able to participate in and consume culture and creativity, regardless of their background or where they live
• Exploring how ACE engages with its partners and stakeholders at all levels to ensure that national and local priorities work harmoniously to benefit the public
• Evaluating ACEs role in developing a strong and vibrant creative sector which supports both grassroots creativity and internationally renowned works of art
• Considering ACEs role in the wider cultural funding ecosystem, and mechanisms to strengthen the role of local voices in decision making
• Assessing ACEs mandate to ensure it is clear and appropriate for the 21st century and it is able to deliver high quality arts and culture on a national, regional and local level

It comes as part of the Governments efforts to break down barriers to opportunity through its Plan for Change with investment and reform to deliver growth, ?create more jobs, ?a?nd rebuild Britain? in a decade of national renewal.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Arts and culture must be for everyone, everywhere.

No matter your background or the place you live, we should all be able to experience the joys that dance, theatre, music, museums, even borrowing a book from a library brings.

For too long only the privileged few in select parts of the country have been able to have access to high-quality arts or to believe a career within them was possible.

This review is the first step on the journey to restoring peoples connection with the arts and culture in every region of the country.

I am absolutely delighted that Baroness Hodge has agreed to take up this role. Her wealth of experience will help us to break down barriers to opportunity in arts and culture and give our young people the chance to shape their own future.

Lead reviewer Rt Hon. Baroness Margaret Hodge said:

I am absolutely thrilled to be asked to lead the review of the Arts Council. I am passionate about the rich contribution the arts can make to all of us, as individuals, in our communities and to the economy.

I look forward to engaging with the Arts Council and with a wide range of stakeholders across the country as we consider the challenges and opportunities the Arts Council faces.

The expert advisory panel assisting Baroness Hodge with the review will be published in due course, alongside the agreed Terms of Reference for the review.

In addition, the government has extended the tenure of Chair of Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, by 18 months to maintain stability during the review process.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Arts Council England is an executive non-departmental public body, and was established by Royal Charter in 1946.
• It makes funding decisions at arms length from the government of the day, using taxpayers and National Lottery players money to support engaging and innovative projects and organisations across the whole of England.
• ACE is one of the governments primary vehicles to support the arts in England; its role encompasses funding and investment, research, support and advice to the sector, and partnership promotion. It works in partnership with a broad range of individuals and organisations across artforms and at the local, regional a
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