Margaret Hodge, the government’s newly appointed anti-corruption champion, is set to lead a crucial review into regional inequality in the arts. The review, which will scrutinise the operations of Arts Council England, comes after concerns were raised by the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, about the prevalence of “cultural deserts” across parts of the country.
Sky News reported last week that Hodge, whose recent appointment to tackle corruption has seen her take centre stage in British politics, would now oversee a fresh investigation into Arts Council England (ACE). This review was originally proposed by the Conservative government, with Mary Archer set to chair it, but was shelved following the Labour Party’s victory in the general election.
Nandy explained that the review would serve as the first step towards reconnecting communities across the UK with the arts, aiming to tackle long-standing disparities. “No matter your background or the place you live, we should all be able to experience the joys that dance, theatre, music, museums, even borrowing a book from a library brings,” Nandy said. She stressed the need to address how access to high-quality arts has historically been concentrated in a few affluent areas, leaving many regions underserved.
Hodge’s review will focus on identifying and addressing the lack of arts facilities and resources in parts of the UK that have been referred to as “cultural deserts.” Nandy noted that the review would examine whether Arts Council England’s current methods of funding and delivering arts projects are effective or need to be restructured. She stated that this process would also involve assessing the body’s overall remit and its approach to working with local organisations.
“The review will look at whether delivering through the Arts Council is actually working, whether it needs to change its way of operation, and whether we need to tighten its remit,” said Nandy at a select committee hearing last week for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport. She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that national funding for the arts reaches grassroots organisations, enabling them to grow and develop existing community-led arts initiatives.
This review reflects broader concerns about the lack of diversity in the arts and culture sectors. Nandy has frequently discussed the need to diversify British culture, particularly the TV industry, which she pointed out has only 8% of its workforce coming from working-class backgrounds. In a statement to The Guardian, she underscored her commitment to bringing the national art collection out of storage and into local communities, a move she believes will help address cultural inequalities across the UK.
Nandy has also been critical of the Conservative Party’s approach to the arts, accusing them of fostering “violent indifference” to cultural issues. She has pledged to address the deep-rooted inequalities that have hindered broad access to arts and culture in many parts of the country, particularly for underrepresented groups.
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Hodge, who has long been an advocate for transparency and accountability, expressed enthusiasm for her new role. “I am absolutely thrilled to be asked to lead the review of the Arts Council. I am passionate about the rich contribution the arts can make to all of us, as individuals, in our communities and to the economy,” she remarked. Hodge vowed to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including local arts organisations and cultural leaders, to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by the arts sector.
Though the composition of the advisory panel supporting Hodge’s review has yet to be confirmed, the government has already taken steps to maintain stability within Arts Council England during the review process. Nicholas Serota, the current chair of the Arts Council, will have his tenure extended by 18 months to ensure continuity as the review is carried out.
The review is expected to spark considerable debate on how best to address regional inequality in the arts and what reforms are necessary to ensure fairer access to culture. With Hodge at the helm, the hope is that the review will provide fresh insights and pave the way for a more inclusive and accessible arts landscape in the UK.
