Lisa Nandy: Attracting more private philanthropy could worsen inequality

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has cautioned against relying on private income streams to "fill the gap" left by cuts to public arts spending, warning it could stoke further regional inequality.

The cabinet member, who represents the constituency of Wigan, told Manchester Evening News she was well aware of how cuts to public funding had hampered the arts, saying they had been "significant over the last decade and a half".

Nandy said: "What that has meant is that private philanthropy has had to come in to fill the gap. But much of that private money goes to the big institutions in the capital, whereas the public money was usually channelled through councils to local institutions, like the Oldham Coliseum and the Bolton Octagon and other institutions all over the country."

Referencing Labour’s manifesto commitment to consider a review of Arts Council England – which the Conservatives had initiated before the general election forced it to go into hiatus – Nandy added: "Now, that collapse in council funding has been a real problem. So we are determined that we are going to look at funding in the round."

Her comments come after Thangam Debbonaire, who was shadow culture secretary before losing her seat in the general election, previously indicated Labour would be looking at all sources of income for the arts, including philanthropy.

In what Manchester Evening News noted was her first exclusive interview since assuming her role on July 5, Nandy admitted her brief feels like a "very heavy responsibility".

Nandy joked she was "definitely the minister for fun", but told Manchester Evening News: "Across our arts, culture and sporting sectors there are lots of challenges."

Her comments come after campaigners revealed their battle to reopen the historic Oldham Coliseum had been successful, with the theatre to welcome audiences in time for 2025’s pantomime season.

The move to reopen the 524-seat theatre – which closed in March 2023 after Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd lost all of its national portfolio organisation funding from Arts Council England – means plans for a replacement 300-seat venue in the Greater Manchester town have been scrapped.