Committee publication · Correspondence · 24 March 2026
Letter from Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, regarding cultural infrastructure, 19 March 2026
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: The work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Summary
Secretary of State Lisa Nandy responds to the Culture Committee's inquiry into cultural infrastructure repair and maintenance backlogs. She confirms government acknowledgment of the challenge and announces a five-year £1.5 billion capital investment package supporting over 1,000 cultural venues, museums, libraries, and heritage buildings, with funds distributed across multiple dedicated streams including the Creative Foundations Fund (£425m) and heritage programmes (£230m).
Key findings
- Government has committed £1.5 billion in capital investment over five years to address cultural infrastructure repair and maintenance backlogs affecting more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, libraries, and heritage buildings
- Investment includes £425 million for the Creative Foundations Fund supporting approximately 300 arts and cultural organisations, £230 million for heritage programmes, £160 million for local and regional museums, £27.5 million for public libraries, and £80 million for National Portfolio organisations
- Government recognises skills and capacity gaps in the sector and will introduce a free capital advice service through Arts Council England to support organisations in procurement, building management, and long-term maintenance planning
- Secretary of State states meaningful solutions require collaboration beyond central government, involving philanthropists, local authorities, foundations, and other partners
- Department is commissioning an evaluation of the Creative Foundations Fund to estimate remaining repair backlog among funded and unsuccessful applicant organisations
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Arts Council England, Baroness Twycross, Purcell (research organisation)
Notable line
“… this £1.5 billion investment will indeed play a critical role, meeting these challenges will require collaboration across the whole cultural ecosystem.”
Key Quotes
“This government acknowledges that there are real challenges in maintaining and renewing the buildings and spaces that support our cultural life.”
“… and have recently committed to a five-year £1.5 billion capital investment package, supporting more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, libraries, and heritage buildings across England over the course of this Parliament.”
“Investment will need to come not only from central government but also from philanthropists, local authorities, foundations and other partners.”
“For too long, the UK's cultural heritage and artistic and cultural landscape have been underfunded and undersupported.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗