Brexit: UK cultural sector divided over EU exit

The UK's vote to leave the European Union has exposed deep divisions within the British cultural world. Munira Mirza, former London culture advisor under pro-Brexit mayor Boris Johnson, argues that the UK contributes £481 million weekly to the EU budget, with only half returned as grants—a fraction of which funds cultural projects. She contrasts this with the £825 million annual budget of Arts Council England, noting the UK pays the EU in ten days what the Council receives in a year. Conversely, John Whittingdale, appointed Culture Secretary by David Cameron in May 2015, asserts that British arts thrive when freed from EU regulations. The article highlights that euroscepticism exists even within the Conservative government, not just in rural areas far from multicultural London.