Unions condemn high-cost funding cuts for arts

Trade bodies urge government to rethink decision to halve funding for creative subjects

Seven unions have condemned the government’s plans for a 50 per cent reduction in funding for high-cost arts and humanities subjects, which they say could make some courses “unviable” for universities to run.

In an open letter to prime minister Boris Johnson published on 23 June, the unions—Bectu, Equity UK, the Musicians’ Union, the University and College Union, Unison, Unite and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain—said they “stand collectively in opposition to the proposed funding cuts to creative and performative arts subjects” in the teaching grant for 2021-22.