Arts: Funding

Lord Warner
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will support the Arts Council's proposal to cut by 17 per cent the budget of the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, Surrey. [HL1700]

Lord Davies of Oldham
The Arts Council operates at arm's length from the Government and decisions about which arts organisations to fund are entirely for it. It would not be appropriate for Ministers to comment.

I understand that the Arts Council has revised its funding proposal for the Orange Tree Theatre. The theatre will now receive an inflationary increase on its existing grant for the next three years.