Arts Council England at 80: Public Funding Vital, New Chair Offers Hope
Back in July 1945, economist John Maynard Keynes pointed out in The Listener that a new form of arts support was emerging in Britain through the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (Cema). Sadly, he passed away just before Cema was officially granted its royal charter on 9 August 1946, which led to its rebranding as the Arts Council of Great Britain. Initially, the council backed 46 organizations, such as the Royal Opera House and Bristol Old Vic, the UK’s first publicly funded regional theater. Over the last 80 years, it has played a role in creating major cultural landmarks like the Southbank Centre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. An editorial in The Guardian on 4 August 2026 reflects on this history while addressing recent challenges for Arts Council England, emphasizing the essential role of public funding in the arts.
Key facts
- John Maynard Keynes wrote in The Listener in July 1945 about the importance of arts patronage.
- The wartime Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (Cema) became the Arts Council of Great Britain.
- The Arts Council was granted a royal charter on 9 August 1946.
- Keynes died a few months before the royal charter was granted.
- The Arts Council initially funded 46 institutions, including the Royal Opera House and Bristol Old Vic.
- Bristol Old Vic was the first publicly funded regional theatre in the UK.
- The Arts Council has contributed to the Southbank Centre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- Arts Council England has faced criticism in recent years, and a new chair offers hope.
- The Guardian editorial argues that public funding for the arts is more vital than ever.
Entities
Artists
- John Maynard Keynes
Institutions
- Arts Council England
- Arts Council of Great Britain
- Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (Cema)
- Royal Opera House
- Bristol Old Vic
- Southbank Centre
- Royal Shakespeare Company
Locations
- United Kingdom
- London
- Bristol