SOLT & UK Theatre welcome Government Investment in Arts Venues
SOLT & UK Theatre have warmly welcomed the Government’s announcement of £1.5 billion of capital investment for cultural organisations to address urgent building needs and prevent venue closures. This follows sustained advocacy from Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, working with members across the sector.
The £1.5 billion package includes:
- £425 million for the Government’s Creative Foundations Fund supporting approximately 300 capital projects in arts venues across the country.
- £80 million capital funding over four years for National Portfolio organisations that receive regular investment from Arts Council England.
- £230 million to protect and preserve heritage buildings across the country.
The funding builds on the government’s Plan For Change by increasing opportunities for people to engage in and experience world class arts and culture.
On delivery, we expect the application criteria to broadly mirror the previous round of the Creative Foundations Fund. Guidance from that round is available here. That scheme required applicants to be not-for-profit cultural organisations. Charity status was not mandatory, provided an organisation could clearly demonstrate that it operates on a not-for-profit basis.
We are engaging with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England on the next phase of the Creative Foundations Fund. We will keep members updated on any changes to eligibility, assessment, or process, and share further detail on timelines and next steps as soon as guidance is confirmed.
Our response to the Curriculum & Assessment Review Final Report and the Government’s Response.
We welcome the findings of the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the Government’s commitment to acting on its recommendations. In particular, we strongly welcome the Government’s decision to scrap the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) – a policy that for too long has restricted children’s access to high-quality arts education. The inclusion of a new core enrichment entitlement in the curriculum also marks a major step forward for arts access in education.
The outcome of the review is a major step toward a broader, more inclusive arts education for children and young people in England – an issue that we have long been campaigning for. Thank you to members who helped to shape our response to the review. You helped to secure this very positive outcome!
Whilst last week’s news is a cause for celebration, we need to stay focused on next steps to show the Government that our industry stands ready to help rebuild a thriving arts education system. To truly enable an arts-rich education, schools must be properly equipped with the trained staff, time, and resources needed to deliver. Our members across the country stand ready to work with their local schools to turn this vision into a reality.
Read our briefing for more detail on what the review means for theatre and how you can get involved.
Our submission to the Autumn Budget 2025
We have urged the Government to use the upcoming Budget to stabilise British theatre, unlock regional economic growth, and ensure that communities everywhere continue to have access to world-class live performance.
Key proposals include:
- Increasing the rate of Theatre Tax Relief (TTR) for touring productions to 60%.
- Correcting the structural inequity in tax relief for touring opera and ballet.
- Raising the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) business-rates relief threshold to £750,000.
- Establishing a Cultural Investment Fund through the British Business Bank.
- Introducing a UK Philanthropy Tax Credit to stimulate private and corporate giving.
A summary of the submission is available here
SOLT & UK Theatre Report Warns of Rising Costs and Shrinking Support Despite Record Audiences
On 22nd May 2025, Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre published a landmark report revealing a sector delivering enormous value to the UK’s economy, communities, and global reputation – but now facing critical risks due to rising costs and long-term underinvestment.
Summary of Spending Review Proposals
- Restore Public Investment in Arts
- Invest £500M in Performing Arts Infrastructure over Four Years to Unlock Additional Investment
- Invest £1.5M to Pilot the Theatre for Every Child Programme
- A National Wealth Fund Loan Guarantee Scheme for Energy Efficiency Adaptations
- Additional Mechanisms to Increase Capital Investment in the Performing Arts
Read our full 2025 Spending Review representation summary outlining our priorities for public spending over the next 4 years.
Our June 2025 response to the Comprehensive Spending Review is here
Our response to the Industrial Strategy: Invest 2035
In November 2024, SOLT & UK Theatre responded to the UK Government’s industrial strategy green paper. Read our response.
Our response to the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan is here.
Initial Rapid Analysis: Autumn Budget 2024
On 30th October 2024 we published our initial rapid analysis of the Budget and its implications for SOLT & UK Theatre members. We welcome feedback on this initial assessment from our Policy, Research and Advocacy Team and will provide further updates as they become available.
You can read our submission for the 2024 Autumn Budget here
Welcoming the new government
In July 2024, SOLT and UK Theatre welcomed the new government in 2024 and published a briefing for new MPs on the contribution the UK’s theatre sector makes and how we can collaborate to create the conditions for theatre to thrive. In collaboration with the cast of Starlight Express, we visited Downing Street, the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport with our letter to the Prime Minister!
