“In Bristol culture is who people are, what people do and what people want to be. It is for every day and for the special occasion. It is at home, on the streets and across every neighbourhood.” Bristol City Council’s Cultural Strategy. 

The financial challenge the Council faces is significant (currently the budget gap is estimated to be up to £87.6m) and means that some cuts are inevitable. However, we think it is important that the Council hear a clear message about the importance of culture in the city, and about how much it is valued. Especially as culture in Bristol has already sustained significant cuts over the last 8 years. 

The consultation suggests that the budget for culture could be reduced by £650,000 by 25/26. The Council haven’t released any detail on how the proposed cuts are envisaged to impact art and creativity in the city, but they have paused decision-making on The Cultural Investment Programme which supports artists and arts organisations like Watershed to:

• advance diversity, equity and inclusion in arts and culture for all Bristol’s citizens
• support Bristol as a city of ideas, creativity and engagement 
• invest in people, places and partnerships to respond creatively to need and support social change.

Culture in Bristol is a catalyst for economic growth, talent development, tourism and innovation. Culture improves the quality of life for Bristol people, provides access to ideas, to community, to fun and to employment. It helps to bring confidence, cohesion, health and wellbeing. In the last round of the Cultural Investment Programme more than 114 grants were distributed to support activity, events and opportunities that reached citizens across the city, including people living in 15 of Bristol’s 27 priority areas. The £754,000 investment catalysed a combined turnover of over £22 million and enabled organisations to:

• employ/contract 3,627 artists/creative practitioners and a further 1,513 event professionals
• leverage a further estimated £4 million investment in the city through Arts Council and National Lottery Heritage funding

The budget consultation closes on Friday 23 December. You can have your say by visiting https://www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/budget-2023-24 where you can get more info and fill in the survey or you can request alternative formats of this document by contacting the Consultation and Engagement Team on consultation@bristol.gov.uk or by calling 0117 922 2848. 

The form is quite long and quite dry - dont be put off!  The part about culture is in section two of the consultation, 67% of the way through the form.  The consultation asks you to select a box to say whether you agree or disagree with the proposal GR9: Culture and creative industries funding. 

There is a comments box at the end of the consultation to add any notes - this could be a place where you state why you think art and culture in Bristol is important. It might also be a place to ask for more information on what will be impacted - so a proper consultation is done before any cuts are made. 

The consultation is also asking about parks, libraries, community centres, environmental sustainability and loads more. You can flick through to the culture question, answer a few or answer all of them.