Baroness Hodge has published her independent review of Arts Council England. You can read the whole thing HERE.

MVT’s Mark Davyd seems less than impressed.

“The review could have taken the time to endorse a simple contribution from the most commercially successful parts of live music to support the grassroots that feed it. Silence. […]

Culture in this country is not dying because it lacks boards, frameworks or strategic visions written in careful language. It is struggling because the places where it begins are being starved of oxygen. They are under-funded, over-regulated and constantly asked to justify their existence to systems that fundamentally misunderstand what they do. […]

The Hodge review offers comfort to those already seated at the table and a flashing neon No Vacancies sign to everyone else.”

It’s going to be another tough year ahead in 2026.

---

The Sound of Silence by Mark Davyd