Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (): Today we are announcing that
the second stage of the Public Body Review into Arts Council
England is underway.
The Public Bodies Review programme delivers against the
commitments made in the Declaration on Government Reform to
increase both the effectiveness of public bodies and Departmental
sponsorship, making HM Government and its public bodies work
better in service of the public. Public Body Reviews will be
underpinned by broad minimum requirements covering efficiency,
efficacy, accountability, and governance. The review will follow
guidance published in April 2022 by the Cabinet Office: ‘Guidance
on the undertaking of Reviews of Public Bodies’.
Arts Council England is an executive non-departmental public
body, and was established by Royal Charter in 1946. It is one of
the Government’s primary vehicles to support the arts and
creativity in England; its role encompasses funding and
investment, research, support and advice to the sector, and
partnership promotion.
The Government is proud of the work it has undertaken with Arts
Council England, providing increased investment in arts and
culture through its most recent funding portfolio, and spreading
opportunity across the country to a record number of
organisations.
The Department has agreed to commence a full-scale review into
Arts Council England, and Dame Mary Archer has been appointed as
the independent Lead Reviewer. She will work with a Review Team
composed of officials from the Department and an Advisory Board
of people with a range of experience in the arts and culture
(detailed below).
- Dave Moutrey (Chair)
- Sir Damon Buffini
- David Butcher
- Tony Butler
- Leila D'Aronville
- Nathaniel Hepburn MBE
-
of Hudnall
- Sir Simon Robey
- Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL
- Professor Katy Shaw
- Sarah Staniforth CBE
- Jo Verrent
- Dr Sharon Watson MBE DL
- Sue Williamson MBE
The Terms of Reference for the review have been drafted following
consultation between the Lead Reviewer, the Department and Arts
Council England, and the review will broadly look at the
following areas:
- Arts Council England’s delivery model and whether it is
correct to deliver effective outcomes for the public;
- Arts Council England’s grant monitoring procedures and
overall efficiency;
- Arts Council England’s statutory functions;
- Departmental sponsorship; and
- Arts Council England’s accountability to the Department,
respecting the importance of the arm's-length principle and the
Arts Council’s responsibility as custodians of public money. In
conducting the review, officials will engage with a broad range
of interested parties in the arts and creative sectors across the
UK.
As set out by the Cabinet Office guidance, the review will report
to the Government, and the Government will publish the
conclusions of the review and any Departmental response in due
course.
