Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the outcomes of the Creative Foundations Fund are distributed equitably across the country.

The first round of the Creative Foundations Fund awarded £96 million to 74 arts and cultural organisations in England. Of these, 58 projects—accounting for 78% of the total projects awarded—were located outside of London. Arts Council England, the fund’s delivery partner, used their Priority Places as a balancing criteria to guide round one investment in areas where opportunities for creative and cultural engagement are underdeveloped.

Up to £425 million will be committed across England through the Creative Foundations Fund by 2030 as part of the £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund. This will be invested in areas and organisations that need it most. Arts Council England will announce further details regarding the application process and eligibility criteria for future rounds in due course.

All not for profit arts and cultural organisations are able to apply for funding, if they meet the criteria. It is ultimately for Arts Council England to make funding decisions, in line with the arm’s-length principle.