Yesterday Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out her Comprehensive Spending Review. Photo: Shutterstock.
Much of the detail will be provided later this month in a Creative Industries Sector Plan, but some of the headlines so far include:
- Between 2024 and 2028, £132.5 million of dormant assets will be unlocked to support disadvantaged young people in accessing music, sport, and drama through investment in facilities and libraries.
- The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will invest more than £2.9 billion in culture, heritage, youth and sports.
- Billions will be provided to fund celebrated institutions such as national museums and galleries, and organisations like Arts Council England.
- Local councils are getting an extra £3.4 billion in grant funding by 2028-29.
Other positive commitments include a £29 billion increase for the NHS, £2 billion for schools, and £39 billion for social and affordable housing.
We will update members on further details as soon as it is available.
Thanks to every MU member who took part in our Spending Review action - emailing MPs and sharing our Spending Review briefing - and helped make this happen.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, the Union will continue to press the government on its manifesto commitments to arts and music, and to ensure that funding is used to protect jobs and organisations under threat.
We are also continuing to lobby for consent, copyright and fair remuneration in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-generated music, as well as music streaming and workers' rights, including freelancers.