In the lead up to the Spring Budget on 6 March 2024, we urge the Chancellor to:

• Permanently extend the higher rate of Orchestra Tax Relief, to help UK orchestras continue to remain ambitious, delivering new productions, creating jobs, building new audiences and delivering for local communities, in the face of continued economic pressures.
• Commit to ensuring that all Local Councils have sufficient funding to set balanced budgets for 2024/25 and develop sustainable medium-term financial strategies.

As the biggest single, public funder of the arts in the UK, the sharp decrease in local authority funding is resulting in major threats and cuts to the cultural offer in local communities across the country.

There is a strong, evidenced based case of the role of music and culture in driving social and economic growth in local communities, however local infrastructure and investment is needed to make this happen.

For every £1 of gross value added generated by the arts and culture industry, a further £1.30 of gross value added is generated in the wider economy, through tax, secondary spending by audiences and export income. Orchestral activity stimulates local employment and workforce development.

UK orchestras, such as Birmingham’s celebrated City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, are cultural powerhouses, enhancing the UK's diplomatic and cultural influence worldwide. They help our major cities compete as world class cultural destinations, attract global talent and tourism to the UK and drive inward foreign investment.

A thriving, local cultural offer makes local cities and regions across the UK more attractive places to live, work and invest.

The multiple benefits of the arts sector to communities are well evidenced, including in terms of health and wellbeing, community cohesion and improved educational outcomes. With increasing pressure on local government spending decisions, investment in local culture results in a reduction in pressure on local health services, policing and schools.

We continue to work with policy makers to seek creative solutions to ensure sustainable investment in UK culture, that will encourage continued growth, opportunity and enrich people’s lives.