A final decision, expected to be made at the end of this month on whether £15m will be given to help fund the Coventry Arts and Media Centre, could be in doubt because of major changes to the Arts Council of England

The Arts Council external assessors judged the City Council's Lottery application in May of this year and then forwarded it for consideration by the Lottery Panel late last month as planned.

But the Arts Council and the Lottery Panel themselves have been adapting to major changes.  Shifting guidance from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport away from Lottery funding for major capital schemes looks set to happen.   And a diversion of a proportion of Lottery funds towards new causes will also influence the final decision at the end of this month.

Cllr Gillian Darby, Chair Arts and Culture Policy Team said:

"An incredible amount of hard work has gone into developing this scheme and it would be so disappointing if it fell at the last hurdle because the Arts Council changed its rules."

The result is likely to see each region rationed to no more than one £15m grant over the next few years.  There are at least four other West Midlands schemes of this scale, including two in Birmingham

MORE INFORMATION: 
Cllr Gillian Darby 01203 635256
Richard Munro, Head of Cultural Services 01203 832320

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