The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is among the organizations that will be affected
- author, Josh Sandiford
- Role, BBC News, West Midlands
Top figures in Birmingham's creative sector have expressed their dismay at council cuts, warning that the city faces cultural deprivation.
Local authority chiefs published draft budget documents on Monday evening indicating how they will respond after declaring virtual bankruptcy.
The dramatic measures include a 21% council tax rise for residents – over two years – while assets worth £1.25bn will be sold to repay the government bailout loan.
No part of the council is left untouched, and there will be cuts to funding for cultural projects and local arts development.
Support will initially be retained for Black History Month and Birmingham Heritage Week in 2024-25, but these events will face a 100% cut from 2025-26.
The Birmingham International Dance Festival will lose £350,000 in funding, and grants to regularly funded arts organizations will face cuts of 50% this year and 100% next financial year.
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Birmingham Rep Theatre
- Birmingham Royal Ballet
- Ikon Exhibition
- Birmingham Opera Company
- fabric
- sambad
- From the throne
- Heritage Center of Excellence
- B: Music
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight said the sector would continue to thrive
Sabra Khan, executive director of South Asian arts and heritage organization Sambad, said he was hurt by the proposed cuts.
“The funding we get from Birmingham City Council is crucial to us,” she said.
“We are a small team of about six full-time staff, and this funding covers most of our learning manager costs.”
Sabra Khan, CEO, Sampad
Lyle Beynon, the city's resident night-time economy ambassador, said the plans seemed like a huge wake-up call for the creative community.
“Our city council, regional authorities and key agencies have simply not given enough value to culture over the years, despite its proven social and economic benefits,” he said.
Birmingham-born Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight said the creative industries would continue to thrive, but people would feel anxious.
“I hope when making decisions people don't think the arts are a luxury because I don't think they are,” he said.
Image source, Getty Images
Birmingham REP will also see a cut in council funding
Ruth Millington, a Birmingham-based art historian, critic and writer, described the news as terrible.
“At the heart of any great city is its culture,” she said. “Protecting and strengthening the creative economy is essential to our city’s recovery.”
Simon Nobbs, head of center at Access Creative College Birmingham, said the proposals would have a seismic impact on current and prospective students who want to pursue a creative career.
“We expect this will unfortunately put more barriers in the way of young people who aspire to work in Birmingham’s thriving cultural sector,” he said.
Birmingham City Council is facing a financial crisis
Birmingham City Council needs to address a £300 million budget shortfall over the next two years.
Its financial situation has been largely blamed on equal pay claims, which latest figures put at £867m, as well as overspending on its much-criticized IT system which is expected to rise to £130m.
Speaking on Monday, council leader John Cotton said they were “really difficult decisions to make” but insisted the council was aware of how the measures would affect people.
“What we sought to do in formulating this budget is to ensure that we mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable groups,” he said.
