ACE's Stakeholder Focus Research reveals that 44% of the general public support government subsidy of the arts, down from 52% when the research was last carried out in 2009. Only 12% strongly support it - down from 16% in 2009 - while 19% of the population oppose it - up from 14% in 2009 - and 7% strongly oppose it, up from 5%.
The results also reveal the public generally believes subsidy should be used to widen access to arts events, with the least popular aim of public funding being "supporting artists and arts organisations to take risks and try new things out". Elsewhere, the research shows that within the industry, there is widespread support for ACE, with 71% of the arts sector and partners reporting a "favourable" opinion of the arts council, although there are also some complaints it is too bureaucratic.
Responding to the results, ACE chief executive Alan Davey said, "Public engagement is seen as something that should be our priority, with the arts council focusing our energies on benefiting the public. It also sends a clear message to us - we must, by necessity and design, become less bureaucratic. It's great that stakeholders feel we have improving relationships with them but we cannot be complacent, and there are still areas in which we need to improve."
Warehouse Appeal - An appeal has been launched (www.warehousetheatre.co.uk) to save Croydon's Warehouse Theatre which is threatened with closure, after the organisation's board placed the 35-year old venue into administration.
The south London theatre has recently been hit with funding cuts from both Arts Council England and Croydon Council. A statement issued by the theatre's board said that it "had no option but to resolve to reluctantly seek to place the Warehouse Theatre Company Ltd into administration...If these events cause the closure of The Warehouse Theatre Croydon, London and the world of live innovative theatre will sadly lose an important cultural asset which has an established reputation and can never be replaced."
The Warehouse has previously hosted big comedy names including Eddie Izzard, Ben Elton and Lenny Henry at the start of their careers, while it has also staged an international playwriting festival for the last 25 years.
Song of Praise - Prime Minister David Cameron has praised British music after global sales of UK artists rose last year. Fans spent £1.9bn on albums by British acts in 2011, up from £1.83bn in 2010, music industry body the BPI estimated. Adele led the way with 18m sales for her second album 21. Mr Cameron said, "British music is loved all over the globe, and as a country we can be proud of the tremendous success of our music industry, which is a world leader." The prime minister added that he was "determined to support British creative businesses that generate jobs and opportunities for young people".
Film Finance - Some £285m of National Lottery money is to be put into the British film industry over the next five years. The sum, which will be used to boost film production, was revealed in a new five-year plan issued by the British Film Institute (BFI). The plan, dubbed New Horizons, sets out measures to increase the variety of films shown in cinemas, particularly outside central London.
(Jim Evans)
