The Stage

ACE castigated in McIntosh report

Published Wednesday 30 July 2008 at 11:05 by Alistair Smith

Genista McIntosh has delivered her long-awaited - and highly critical - verdict on Arts Council England’s handling of its recent spending review, claiming that ACE must act more as an advocate for the arts and less like a “policeman” of public funds.

The former National Theatre and Royal Opera House executive, who was commissioned in March to undertake the independent report, has now delivered her full judgement on the process undertaken by ACE, which culminated in its controversial funding overhaul in January.

As well as highlighting the mistakes made by the organisation over the “turbulent period”, she has also made a string of recommendations as to how similar errors can be avoided in the future.

Writing in the report, she says: “However well-intentioned ACE’s Investment Strategy process may have been, both its design and its implementation had flaws which exposed ACE’s reputation to damage.

“And while it would be unfair not to recognise that bad luck and unfortunate timing played their part - for example the delayed announcement of the comprehensive spending review settlement and the loss of key individuals - the impact of these matters was almost certainly exacerbated by how ACE responded to them.”

In particular, she highlights problems over how ACE’s regional and national offices worked together and the way the organisation engaged with its clients and partners.

However, while acknowledging that the damage inflicted upon the arts council’s reputation was “serious”, she also claims that there are “encouraging signs of recovery”, thanks in part to the actions of its new chief executive Alan Davey.

Other criticisms levelled by McIntosh include the absence of a coherent national overview of policy and an insistence on focusing on internal process, rather than external results.

Summing up her report, she complained: “The problems [ACE] experienced throughout the Investment Strategy process arose, in my view, partly from a preoccupation with implementing its own priorities, leading to an inward-looking culture which inhibited it from talking openly to its clients, partners and friends. ACE needs to remember that it is not a regulator of the arts sector, even though it has a responsibility for public funds. It should be an advocate, enabler, supporter, developer, critical friend - but not a policeman.”

For Genista McIntosh’s report in full and Alan Davey’s response, go to www.artscouncil.org.uk