On 25 July we published our response to the key findings of an extensive consultation with the UK’s arts and cultural sector.

The findings are the result of a three-month consultation with arts organisations, regional development agencies, cultural bodies, and practitioners in a series of roundtable discussions and comment forums across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. More than six hundred individuals representing the diversity of the UK’s flourishing arts and cultural sector were involved.

The arts at the heart of our work
Following the consultation, we have published an Action Plan for the Arts that puts the arts and creativity at the heart of our cultural relations mission in building trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide.

In response to the findings, we are committed to:

• Maintaining all of our sector expertise in visual arts, dance and drama, music, film, design and architecture, literature and creative economy with the addition of a new media function
• Reinvesting in our international network of professional expertise including specialist posts and external advisors
• Establishing a new external advisory function for the arts
• Increasing co-operation with key partners at home and abroad
• A substantial increase in our global Arts budget to £30m

Our CEO, Martin Davidson, said: 'Our Action Plan reaffirms the place of the arts at the centre of our cultural relations work. During the consultation, artists and cultural organisations told us how much they value our work and that they want us to do more. We look forward to working with the sector to implement the plan’.

The British Council arts consultation was conducted through a series of events held in London, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and Nottingham.

More information
To view the findings of the consultation and response detailed in our Action Plan for the Arts visit our Arts pages.