§ 59. Mr. Ottawayasked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on Government support for the arts in the east midlands.
§ Mr. LuceIt is for the Arts Council to determine its allocation of funds to regional arts associations. So far this year East Midlands Arts has received £1.793 million. An announcement of 1987–88 funds will be made by the council in due course.
§ Mr. OttawayI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware of the growing cash crisis in East Midlands Arts, which is a development agency having difficulty sustaining its present level of support for the arts in Nottingham? Is he aware of the closure of the midlands group arts centre, which is funded by that agency? Can he offer any hope for agencies such as that in Nottingham?
§ Mr. LuceI was glad to be able to visit Nottingham not too long ago. I am much impressed by the range of arts and museum facilities there. Since 1979–80 and until this financial year the amount of resources allocated to East Midlands Arts has gone up by 150 per cent. in real terms. That is a substantial increase and devolution of powers from the Arts Council. On the matter of the midlands group arts centre, I understand that the various recommendations of the working party are being examined and it should take about nine months for the centre to implement those recommendations. That seems to be the current position.
§ Mr. YeoI welcome the increases in funding both for the east midlands and for East Anglia. Does my hon. Friend agree that the use of public funds to support arts projects in the regions is preferable to supporting high prestige projects in central London, to which only a very small proportion of the total population have access?
§ Mr. LuceThe figures that I have given are a clear indication that, broadly speaking, the Arts Council is pursuing a policy of allocating more funds to support the arts in all parts of the country.