Committee takes evidence from Baroness Hodge on her review of Arts Council England
In a one-off oral evidence session, the Communications and Digital Committee takes evidence from Baroness Margaret Hodge on her review of Arts Council England (ACE).
Meeting details
At 2:15pm: Oral evidence
Work
Arts Council England (Non-inquiry session)
Background
Baroness Hodge’s review was published in December 2025. It made recommendations on areas including ACE’s current strategy and application processes, options for increasing public and private funding for the arts in England, and measures to improve access to cultural opportunities nationwide.
In March 2026 the Government responded to the report, accepting all of Baroness Hodge’s recommendations. This session focuses on the findings set out in the ACE review, and what ACE and the Government should prioritise in delivering them.
Possible questions
Possible questions to Baroness Hodge include:
- What are the best ways to grow private investment in the arts in the UK?
- Is there a role for a new tourism levy to support investment in arts and culture in England?
- How can ACE better support freelancers in the arts and creative industries?
- What steps can the Government and ACE take to support touring to widen access to the arts?
- How far do the Government’s proposed changes to the school curriculum address current concerns about the challenges facing arts education?