Arts Councils

Arts Councils, main funding bodies for the arts in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In April 1994 the Arts Council of Great Britain, which had been established in 1946, was replaced by three new bodies: the Arts Council of England—now Arts Council England, the Scottish Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Wales. In 2001 the Arts Council of England merged with the nine regional councils in England to form Arts Council England. There is also an Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The arts councils are non-political organizations, responsible for developing and improving the knowledge and understanding of the arts, and increasing the accessibility of the arts to the public throughout the United Kingdom. Although each council receives public money from central government and revenue from the National Lottery, they are independent bodies and decide where the money should be allocated. They help fund a range of theatres, galleries, exhibitions, and film and literary projects, as well as investing in orchestras, mime and puppetry, opera, dance and touring companies, visual arts (including architecture and photography), and individual artists. In addition to providing both regular and specific funding, the arts councils monitor and appraise the use of funds, offer management advice, and coordinate policies on the arts at a national level.