The Association for Cultural Enterprises (AfCE) warmly welcomes the announcement from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of a £1.5 billion, five-year capital investment package for arts, culture, museums, libraries and heritage across England.
This landmark commitment recognises cultural organisations as essential places of civic infrastructure that support pride in place, access to culture, learning, wellbeing and local identity and responds to the acute capital pressures many organisations have faced after more than a decade of under-investment.
The scale of the funding, including targeted investment for local and regional museums, heritage buildings, libraries and arts venues, presents a major opportunity to stabilise the sector and safeguard cultural spaces for communities across the country.
Melanie Lewis MBE, Chair of Trustees at the Association for Cultural Enterprises, said:
“This is a highly significant and welcome commitment to culture as an integral part of our national and local infrastructure. Capital investment on this scale offers a real opportunity to protect much-loved cultural buildings and ensure they remain open, accessible and relevant to the communities they serve.
“Capital investment paves the way for our brilliant cultural institutions to deliver lasting public value, but it will need to be delivered through strong governance, realistic business planning and a clear focus on long-term financial sustainability. AfCE exists to support organisations to make that transition, ensuring today’s investment underpins resilient, future-ready cultural enterprises tomorrow.
“Without doubt, capital investment is a critical part of the picture, but our organisations also require a strong focus on operating models, audience insight, earned income, pricing, and commercial capability. That will enable them to emerge with improved buildings, better commercial performance, and greater social impact, all leading to financial assurity.”
AfCE works with cultural organisations of all sizes to strengthen commercial performance and embed enterprise thinking. This is through supporting retail, catering, admissions, pricing strategy, audience development, data-led decision-making benchmarking alongside upskilling teams through our in person training, annual Conference and online Academy. This capital investment translates into sustainable day-to-day operations.
Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive of the Association for Cultural Enterprises, added:
“This announcement marks an important moment for the sector and rightly recognises the importance of cultural infrastructure. The real challenge and opportunity now lies in delivery.”
“Capital investment creates the conditions for success, but it is sustainable operating models that keep doors open in the long term. The organisations that will benefit most will be those able to turn improved buildings into stronger income generation, deeper audience engagement and more resilient business models.”
“AfCE’s role is to help cultural organisations bridge that gap, translating capital investment into lasting impact through enterprise, commercial insight and practical support.”
As further details of individual funds, eligibility criteria and application guidance are published, AfCE will work with members and partners to help organisations assess readiness, understand opportunities, and align capital investment with realistic and sustainable business planning. If you are not a member, this is a great time to join – more information can be found here.
AfCE looks forward to engaging constructively with government, arm’s-length bodies and sector partners as this programme develops, and to supporting cultural organisations to maximise the long-term value of this once-in-a-generation investment in England’s cultural infrastructure.
