Arts Council funding warning

From the Arts Council England website:

[Arts Council England] Chief Executive Alan Davey is urging local authorities across the country to maintain their investment in the arts, and warns that the Arts Council can't mitigate council cutbacks.

Speaking on 31 March 2010 at the Arts Council-sponsored Local Government Association's annual culture, tourism and sport conference in Newcastle, Alan argued that local authority investment in the arts has already paid dividends in terms of economic and social benefits, and that the arts are well placed to play an even greater role in the future success of local communities, if investment is sustained.