Political opinion: Wolverhampton MP backs £1.5bn plan to protect arts and heritage

As the cost of living continues to affect families across Britain, funding for our treasured cultural venues will ensure vital, affordable and welcoming spaces are available for communities to come together and celebrate what makes their local area special. This critical investment marks another step by the Government to support families with the cost of living.

This cash boost will help restore national pride in community assets, bring people together and support no or low-cost options for days out as part of the government’s drive to support families with the cost of living. Six DCMS sponsored museums are in the top ten most visited sites in the UK offering free access for millions of Brits each year with this package helping to offer opportunities to engage in culture for families across every community in England.

The investment focuses on the places that need it most, reversing more than a decade of Conservative underfunding. More than £100 million is earmarked for local museums struggling with maintenance and running costs, benefiting up to 200 sites nationwide. The move supports the Prime Minister’s ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain, turning the page on a decade of neglect in our communities while placing culture back at the heart of our national identity.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “At a time when forces seek to divide us, arts, culture and heritage are what bind us together. 

“Our local cultural institutions aren’t just buildings, they’re part of who we are as a nation, they help tell our national story, and provide unique opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams. 

"This funding will keep the doors open and the lights on at thousands of arts organisations, museums, libraries and heritage buildings that might otherwise have been at real risk of closing. It will unlock opportunities for millions of people who have been shut out for far too long. That is the Britain we are rebuilding.

Warinder Juss MP, Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton West added: “At a time when communities have been underfunded and neglected, our arts, museums, libraries, and heritage buildings are what hold us together. They aren’t just buildings, they are the heart of our towns and cities, places where young people can dream, families can gather, and communities can thrive.

“This investment will keep the doors open, protect thousands of jobs, and ensure that everyone, everywhere can access culture, history, and creativity. After a decade of Tory cuts, this is about rebuilding pride in our communities and unlocking opportunities that have been denied for far too long.

“Here in Wolverhampton West, this funding is welcome news for our local cultural venues and the communities that rely on them. It will help ensure that arts, heritage, and libraries continue to be part of everyday life for families, young people, and neighbours across the area, no matter their background.”

Last year, the Culture Secretary announced £270 million worth of investment through the Arts Everywhere Fund, which has already thrown a lifeline to dozens of much-loved local institutions. Today’s commitment builds on this further, with additional funding pledged to take investment to £1.5 billion between 2025 and 2030.

The cultural sector currently supports 700,000 jobs across the country and this package will support thousands of jobs for years to come.

The £1.5 billion of funding is made up of:

• £760 million for museums:

• £600 million infrastructure funding which will support national museums and DCMS sponsored cultural organisations. Funding will address critical maintenance and works to estates, and enable these institutions to deliver on their commitments to share their collections and expertise nationally, drawing in visitors from around the world.

• £160 million will be invested in our local and regional museums. The Museums Estates Development Fund will help museums tackle maintenance backlogs, and a new £13.6 million Museum Transformation programme will support organisations move towards more sustainable business models.

• £425 million Creative Foundations Fund which will support approximately 300 capital projects in arts venues across the country

• £230 million for heritage protecting and preserving heritage buildings, including listed places of worship, across the country:

• £75 million for at risk heritage which provides grants towards repairs and conservation of historic buildings.

• £46 million for the Heritage Revival Fund which helps communities to take control of and look after local heritage and bring buildings back into public use.

• In recognition of the important role religious heritage buildings play in the UK's national story, a new £92 million fund called thePlaces of Worship Renewal Fund will replace the £23 million Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and bring these important buildings into line with other heritage assets. It will give them access to the same level of financial support from the government as historic houses, monuments and other heritage sites.

• £27.5 million for Libraries Improvement Fund which supports public libraries to upgrade their buildings and technology to meet changing needs to better serve their communities

• £80 million capital funding over four years to benefit National Portfolio organisations that receive regular investment from Arts Council England. This is part of a 5% uplift next year for these organisations that will help deliver arts and culture activity in every local authority.