The national Council
The members of our national Council are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Council members are usually appointed for four years, and may be reappointed for a further term of four years. Council meets approximately five times a year.
Each member is appointed because of their special interest in, or experience of, the arts as practicing artists or arts administrators; as senior academics; or as public or private sector executives.
Council members are responsible for ensuring the achievement of Arts Council England's objectives, which are to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts, and to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public. They do this by deciding on policy and priorities, and investing money in artists and arts organisations directly and through the regional arts councils. Our priorities for 2008-2011 can be found here.
National Council expenses
In line with our policy of being open and transparent, we have undertaken to publish information regarding our national Council's expenses on a quarterly basis.
Regional arts councils
The nine regional arts councils consist of 15 members. Six members on each of the councils are representatives of local government or regional government. (The South East Regional Arts Council has 20 members of whom eight are from local and regional government, reflecting the large population of the region.)
The regional arts councils are responsible for:
- agreement of regional strategies, plans and priorities for action within the framework of national policies and priorities
- approval of three year regional investment plans
- agreement of detailed regional annual budgets (including all grants over £25,000 for named, funded organisations)
Meet the members of our nine regional arts councils:
