Message from Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England

You may be aware that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport recently announced a consultation on the return of the lottery shares to their original causes.

If agreed by Parliament, this would re-balance the share of the lottery, restoring arts, heritage and sport shares to their original 20% each by 2012.

This is a very positive move for the arts and I would like to encourage you to respond to the consultation document. It’s vital that Government hears directly from front line arts organisations about how the distinct benefits of additional lottery funding would help you to deliver your work on the ground. Your views are particularly valuable in light of the reductions to public funding we know are coming in future years, and which will make the lottery contribution to the arts all the more important.

The consultation proposes re-balancing lottery shares in two stages, returning 18% each to arts, heritage and sports by April 2011, and to 20% by April 2012. This would eventually reduce the share currently held by the Big Lottery Fund to 40%.

Details of the consultation can be found on the DCMS website at www.dcms.gov.uk/consultations/7070.aspx. The consultation closes on 21 August.