Funding for Suffolk's arts and culture.

Gainsborough's House, worth your money?

At Thursday’s full council meeting we debated a motion about the funding of arts and culture.

For many years the County Council has supported a number of cultural organisations across the County, including Gainsborough’s House and the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.  As money has become tighter however, and we have had to prioritise those activities which we are obliged to deliver, these grants have been gradually reduced, but not eliminated.

There are those who believe that the arts should fend for themselves and that no public money should be devoted to them.  I am not among their number.   Setting aside for a moment the undeniable soul enriching value of artistic endeavour, theatres, concert halls, museums and galleries attract visitors to the county.  These visitors spend money and boost the local economy.  In addition, many arts organisations engage in community activities that contribute to the work of the county council in the areas of education and Adult Social Care.

 At Gainsborough’s House, for example, we have an education officer who spends a great deal of time working with local schools and colleges.  Over the past year around 300 children have visited the House and participated in a wide range of art related activities,  We hope that we are creating the art lovers, and creative artists of the future.  We also have a weekly museum club for people with learning difficulties.

About 20,000 people visited Gainsborough’s House this year, and the museum is thought to stimulate around £600,000 for the local economy when one takes into account money spent by tourists plus the wages of employees and payments to local businesses.

The council motion, which was debated after some amendment, effectively asked the administration to confirm that financial support will continue to be offered to cultural organisations in Suffolk.   The cabinet member, Sarah Stamp, was able to do this, although no blanket guarantees were forthcoming as to what form this funding will take. In times of  financial uncertainty this is as it should be. 

I spoke in the debate, and in addition to commenting about the contribution made by Gainsborough’s House above, I did make the point that it is not healthy for arts organisations to become too dependent on public funding, or, indeed, on any one source of support.   It is important that they strive to become as self-sufficient as possible, building on links with supporter groups, charitable trusts and other sources of finance.

Commercial activities are also increasingly important.  At Gainsborough’s House we know that in the long term we will only survive if we increase our entry ticket sales, shop receipts and other similar payments.   It was an interesting coincidence that on the same day as the debate at Endeavour House we submitted a bid to the  Heritage Lottery Fund for funding to support a major expansion of the museum’s activities.  The aim is to attract more visitors to ensure the sustainability of the organisation for the long term.   We now have to wait until March to find out whether our bid will meet with first time success.   

I will report back when I know!