Funds spent on Arts, Culture and Heritage (FOI)

​​​​​​​Request

Please confirm how the 1% for arts, culture and heritage has been spent, namely:

A

For every year since 2020 when this was implemented, what was the total sum making up the 1%?

B

For every one of those years, please provide a breakdown of organisations that received funding, and how much they received?

C

For every one of those years, please advise the date when it was decided how the 1% would be allocated?

D

For every one of those years, please advise the date when recipients were informed of how much they would receive?

Response

A

Funding, as per the Proposed Government Plan 2020-2024: P40/2019 has been in effect from 2022. Details can be accessed via the link below. 

Proposed Government Plan 2020–23: increase in revenue expenditure on the arts, heritage and culture

The following extract is of note: 

In 2021 we will continue to invest resources in hospitality, retail, agriculture and fisheries through measures such as grants, route development support, re-capitalisation of the Rural Incentive Scheme and productivity support. We also remain committed to growth funding for the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio. We will deliver the States Assembly decision (P.40/2019) with 1% of net revenue expenditure (excluding time limited costs relating to Covid-19) going to these sectors in 2022. We commit to the reinstatement of funding at the agreed rate of 1% of net revenue expenditure for 2024 and beyond17. We will increase investment in arts, culture and heritage, recognising their importance to Islanders and investors alike. We will also continue our investment in Digital Jersey as a catalyst for the embrace of new technologies and a voice for the promotion and of our Island’s growing digital sector.

Please see the following link. Relevant data is also detailed in Tables 1 attached. 

Tables 1.pdf​

Government Plan 2021 to 2024.pdf ​

B

For grants over £75k, information is publicly available on www.gov.je in the Annual Report and Accounts 2022, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied. Please see the following link: 

States of Jersey Group 2022 Annual Report and Accounts.pdf (gov.je)​

The 2023 accounts are currently being audited and are intended for future publication within 12 weeks of the receipt of this request. Article 36 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has therefore been applied. Draft figures are included in Table 2 attached. 

Tables 2.pdf

​C

The four major Arm’s Length Organisations (ALOs) accounting for over 90% of the Arts, Heritage and Culture (AHC) 1% grant are agreed at the date the Government Plan is agreed. The remaining pot is distributed when appropriate throughout the year.

D

For the major ALO’s, it is on the back of receiving the required documents and would be shortly after the Government Plan is finalised or 1st January 2024. The grant partnership agreement would stipulate payment terms and whether the grant could be reduced in year. Other discretionary grants pot is decided and agreed when a partnership agreement is signed.

Articles applied

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

Article 36 - Information intended for future publication

(1) Information is qualified exempt information if, at the time when the request for the

information is made, the information is being held by a public authority with a view to   

its being published within 12 weeks of the date of the request.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground

must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant –

(a) of the date when the information will be published;

(b) of the manner in which it will be published; and

(c) by whom it will be published.

(3) In this Article, “published” means published –

(a) by a public authority; or

(b) by any other person.

Public Interest Test 

Article 36 is a qualified exemption, which means that a public interest test has to be undertaken to examine the circumstances of the case and decide whether, on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

Public interest considerations favouring disclosure  

• disclosure of the information would support transparency and promote accountability to the general public.

Public interest considerations favouring withholding the information

• It is intended to publish the Annual Report and Accounts on www.gov.je within 12 weeks of the receipt of this request. In it is reasonable for government to publish reports in an orderly manner, following completion of appropriate internal processes, and publishing in advance, and in such close proximity to the expected publication date, would potentially undermine the orderly publication and conduct of government work (when the public benefit of earlier publication under the Law would derive limited benefit). ​