DCMS to conduct full-scale review into Arts Council England

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will be conducting a full-scale review into Arts Council England (ACE) following an initial “light touch” assessment.  

In 2022 Jacob Rees-Mogg, then minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency, launched a review programme to decide the future of public bodies such as ACE.  

ACE has been earmarked for review in the 2023/24 financial year as part of this review programme.  

An Arts Council England spokesperson told The Bookseller: “Public Body Reviews are part of a standard governance process for non-departmental bodies to make sure that they deliver outstanding public services.  

“We are already working with our sponsor department (the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) on this. We look forward to engaging positively with the process, as we did during the last review in 2017, to demonstrate how we’re delivering our 10-year strategy, Let’s Create, supporting organisations and individuals in the sector, and contributing to Government priorities.”