Equity has condemned plans by Bristol City Council to cut its Cultural Investment Programme by £635,000. The response came ahead of a demonstration against the cuts at College Green this morning (26 November). Organised by local arts and community groups, Equity members were joined at the demo by artists and members of the public concerned about the impact of the cuts.
Attending the demo Kim Hicks, a Bristol-based actor and Equity member who is Chair of the union’s Bristol & West of England Branch, called the proposed cut “not only short-sighted but also unnecessary, making up a tiny proportion of the £20.8m they need to balance their budget.”
Equity is trying to establish what proportion of the overall funding of the Cultural Investment Programme – which funds arts and culture projects and organisations across Bristol – the planned £635k cut represents.
The union is encouraging members to respond to Bristol City Council’s Budget 2026 to 2027 Consultation, which sets out the council’s plan for cuts, and to attend today’s demo against the cuts.
Kim Hicks, actor and Chair Equity’s Bristol & West of England Branch, said:
“The plan by Bristol City Council to cut £635,000 from its Cultural Investment Programme is not only short-sighted but also unnecessary, making up a tiny proportion of the £20.8m they need to balance their budget.
“Yet it will have an outsized impact on Bristol’s cultural ecosystem. Most recently, the Cultural Investment Programme has supported 40 projects and 26 organisations – from community based projects to collectives of local artists, alongside flagship events and organisations such as St Pauls Carnival and Bristol Pride.
“These artists and organisations make the culture that enriches Bristol’s communities, brings in money to the wider economy, and creates the sort of pride that led to the city being named a UNESCO City of Film. But without this funding artists will lose not only their ability to create, but also to work.
“We call on Bristol City Council to reverse this decision and recognise the tangible economic contributions and community benefits that come from properly funding artists.”
Background
Equity members have stood strong against plans to damage the arts and entertainment industry in Bristol. This includes successfully campaigning to stop the sale of Bottle Yard Studios, a major production facility in the city, and opposing cuts and detrimental decision-making delays to the Cultural Investment Programme.
Respond to the Budget Consultation
