House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Government Response to Baroness Hodge’s Review of Arts Council England
26 March 2026 · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Proposed by Lisa Nandy Lab Wigan
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- Government accepts all recommendations from Baroness Hodge's review of Arts Council England
- Minister commits to working with arts organisations to anchor them in communities
- Copy of government response to be placed in libraries of both Houses
Issue summary
The minister addresses the importance of the arts in UK society and discusses the government's response to Baroness Hodge's review of Arts Council England.
Action requested
The government accepts all recommendations from the Hodge Review and commits to working with arts organisations to anchor them in communities, enabling access to excellence and providing opportunities for everyone. The minister will place a copy of the government response in the libraries of both Houses.
Key facts
- Arts have been treated as an unaffordable luxury or nuisance.
- A new town of culture contest has been launched.
- The biggest capital uplift to the arts in a generation has been announced.