The CEO of Arts Council England has passionately defended the organization, asserting that it has faced challenges due to media coverage that is overly focused on London.
Darren Henley, who recently marked his 10th anniversary as the head of Arts Council England, expressed to the Guardian that there is a significant disparity in how the media covers arts leaders.
He pointed out that while figures from London often receive newspaper features, arts leaders in the regions—who have benefited from ACE’s allocation of funds—struggle to gain the same level of exposure. The Arts Council is responsible for distributing both public and lottery funding to arts organizations across England.
Henley remarked, “I notice a clear London focus in our media. I travel around the country, and the leaders in those regions don’t get the same half-page exposure in national newspapers as their London counterparts do.
“There exists a power dynamic here… an imbalance. Perhaps my role as I navigate the corridors of power in London is to advocate for all those areas lacking representation.”
His statements follow critiques from several prominent London-based arts figures after Wigmore Hall announced that starting in 2026, it would stop accepting public funding.
The venue has instead secured £10 million in donations. John Gilhooly, the artistic and executive director of Wigmore Hall, acknowledged the support from ACE but stated that “it has lost its way.”
Henley responded, “I have utmost respect for those who hold differing opinions on our work. It’s entirely reasonable for a public institution to face scrutiny… yet I encounter numerous individuals who express a different sentiment.
“There are many passionate groups who appreciate our efforts, and perhaps it’s the negative voices that garner more attention than the positive ones.”
The former Classic FM leader emphasized that ACE is “not on a campaign against classical music” following the Withdrawal of Wigmore Hall and the ensuing criticisms from various sector representatives. Former English National Opera artistic director David Pountney notably lambasted ACE, suggesting it has a bias against opera.
Henley countered, “It is crucial to maintain top-tier opera at the Royal Ballet in London—our capital must host performances of equal or superior artistic merit as seen anywhere globally. Equally important is the existence of a network of grassroots live music venues throughout the country.”
He also rejected the notion put forth by former National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner that ACE’s funding should emulate the UK Sport model and pursue “excellence.”
Hytner proposed that UK Sport’s competitive funding model punishes underperforming teams while rewarding those that excel, implying a similar approach could be applied to arts funding. Henley responded, “I don’t believe that really captures what he is suggesting… there seems to be a misunderstanding there.”
The government has commissioned a review of ACE, which annually distributes over £500 million in public funds and more than £250 million in national lottery funds, employing more than 650 individuals.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated that the review aims to reignite “people’s connection with arts and culture throughout every region of the country.”
