Manchester-based organisations received more Arts Council funding than those in any other UK local authority over the last year.
Arts Council England funded 607 projects based in the city of Manchester, a total investment of £3,193,646 from April 2024 to February 2025, according to recent data.
Birmingham was the second most funded authority, with Lambeth in south London coming third.
What money went where?
Almost half the funding for Manchester was allocated to four projects, the largest being £800,000 to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) for Greater Manchester Creative Health.
The GMCA aims to enrich, enhance and promote cultural offerings for people in Greater Manchester.
As such, it is important to note that GMCA funding is likely to be distributed throughout the other boroughs of Greater Manchester, attracting people from across the region through events and projects.
The best-funded specific discipline was theatre, although projects that were categorised under ‘combined arts’ and ‘not discipline specific’ received the most money overall.
Theatre disciplines received £606,904 which made Manchester the fourth highest city for theatre funding in the country.
Z-Arts in Hulme, Manchester, was the highest funded theatre project, with £74,924 allocated for the Grandad Anansi Tour in August 2024.
Liz O’Neill, CEO of Z-Arts, said: “It’s always a pleasant surprise these days if you get funded.
“Manchester is thriving against all odds given the current climate.”
However, she expressed concern that support may be reallocated elsewhere following such a big investment in northern areas.
As costs for productions increase it is becoming increasingly difficult for tours to be profitable.
Mrs O’Neill said: “There’s a strong feeling that the small-scale touring circuit is broken.”
Manchester compared to other Greater Manchester boroughs
The borough of Manchester received 46% of the total for Greater Manchester.
When we compared Manchester’s funding to the other nine boroughs, Manchester received £3,193,646, and the rest of Greater Manchester combined received £3,643,758.
Rochdale received £1,145,473 – the highest funding of the other Greater Manchester boroughs.
Of that total, £750,000 went to the Rochdale Development Agency, which aims to improve well-being, economic growth, and community by supporting the cultural regeneration of the area.
This funding is targeted to the Rochdale Creates Place Partnership.
Pete Courtie is head of culture and placemaking for Rochdale Development Agency.
He emphasised the importance of creating sustainable cultural growth in the area, and maintaining a strategy “rooted in partnership”.
“It’s about saying to people, you are entitled as human beings to find ways in which we can explore our creativity, to access cultural content that allows us to understand who we are as communities, as people, as individuals.
“I believe a quality arts offer is something we’re all entitled to and you shouldn’t have to live in a city to access quality cultural content.
“Nor indeed should you have to live in a big city to earn a living as an artists, or to think that the arts are only available to those growing up in the city.”
He said the investment in Rochdale’s arts is long overdue, and that engagement is rising in Rochdale as a result.
“I’m most excited by the fact that we’re able to amplify what’s already happening in the borough.
“To support our arts organisations and develop really robust partnerships that are going to have a much wider impact.”
The North of England
The North of England was the second most highly funded area, according to how the Arts Council breaks down areas in the country: North, Midlands, South East, South West, and London.
The North received £26,886,102 worth of funding, to London’s £27,730,357.
Sheffield was 20th for local authority funding in the country, receiving £1,191,294 in the last year.
Sam Holland, 34, is a freelance producer based in Sheffield.
Mr Holland is heavily involved in the arts in the area, through Roots Mbili theatre and as director of Migration Matters Festival – both organisations regularly receive Arts Council funding.
He feels that Manchester’s funding is well-deserved, and that more needs to be done on a local level to attract investment in his area.
He said: “Sheffield needs to buck up.
“There is absolutely no support for burgeoning artists in Sheffield.
“I will refute anyone who says there is a nurturing quality to Sheffield – it’s nonsense.
“Manchester has embraced its artists and done far more than other northern cities to support its artists, and it is benefitting the wider economy.”
He stressed that the social and economic value of the arts should be more highly valued across the UK, adding that although it is great that the Arts Council offers funding, reliance on it is “unhealthy”.
“We shouldn’t be made to compete for funding the way we do in this country – there needs to be proportional funding for places, which goes back to Arts Council funding from the Government.”
Mr Holland added that there are concerns in the industry that the government may impose funding cuts to the Arts Council as part of cost-saving measures.
He said the Arts Council have indefinitely delayed the application round for NPOs (national portfolio organisations), which was supposed to take place in July.
NPO status enables large organisations to be funded for four years without having to put in repeat applications on a yearly basis. This makes arts organisations less vulnerable, as they can effectively plan for four years’ worth of projects and work.
He said: “That’s a major hit for arts and culture across the country.”
Arts Council England has a series of regular funds open, forming part of their ‘Let’s Create’ strategy.
According to its website this strategy: “Will value the creative potential in each of us, provide communities in every corner of the country with more opportunities to enjoy culture, and celebrate greatness of every kind.”
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