Culture Recovery Board like 'Notting Hill dinner guest list', says Jo Stevens MP

Grand Opera House, York. The region's cultural industries face uncertain times. Picture: James Hardisty.

Details for applications of more than £1m of up to £500m that Arts Council England is delivering will also be shared with the Culture Recovery Board.

Its 11 members, who have been appointed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), include independent chairman Sir Damon Buffini, Sir Nicholas Serota, chairman of Arts Council England, and Sir Laurie Magnus, chairman of Historic England.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, Jo Stevens MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said the membership was like a “Notting Hill dinner guest list – where’s the representation?”

Sir Damon has previously said he was “very proud” to be asked to join the board and said the funds would “reach organisations both large and small, from historic houses to performing arts companies to independent cinemas”.

Yorkshire's arts 'not a luxury' in recovery from pandemic, says Jo Stevens MP

A Government spokesperson said: "Throughout this crisis, we have worked with urgency to support the arts, which are the soul of the nation."

They added that it "builds on £200 million in emergency public funding to stabilise organisations in the Spring and this new investment will help secure the future of the performing arts, protect jobs in the industry and ensure work continues to flow to freelancers.

"We are committed to delivering this funding quickly and fairly to organisations, big and small, at the heart of communities across the country. Guidance to help organisations access £500 million in grants is now live and applications will open through Arts Council England from the 10th of August."