The Stage

ACE unveils admin cost-cutting plan

Published Wednesday 16 September 2009 at 11:15 by Lalayn Baluch

Arts Council England has announced cost-cutting changes to its Grants for the Arts programme, which will represent 23% of the £6.5 million administrative saving it has been asked to find by the government.

Under the new system, which will be put into place from March 2010, the programme - which funds individual projects over a set time period - will be monitored and assessed by a central team based in Manchester. Staff from the nine regional offices will continue to make the final decision on applications. According to ACE, the change will mean “a simplified application process, consistent advice for applicants and considerable administration savings”. A number of changes will also be implemented in an attempt to make the system more accessible.

From March 1, arts organisations will be able to apply to the programme online, while those making applications for £10,000 or less will be asked for shorter written proposals, which ACE hopes will cut the decision time down to six weeks. Under the old system, those applying for more than £5,000 could wait for up to 12 weeks for a decision.

ACE Grants for the Arts director Philip Deverell said: “Not only will we be able to make significant savings, which will be invested straight back into the arts, but the process will be quicker for artists and arts organisations to apply.”

ACE will suspend new applications for the Grants for the Arts scheme between January 18 and February 26, while the changes are introduced.