Arts funding gap in the north must be closed | Letters

It was pleasing to read about Labour’s commitment to the principle of access to art for “everyone” (Editorial, 17 April). Everyone seemingly in London, where a whopping £135m has been invested in the V&A East museum – the latest addition to the buzzing East Bank cultural quarter. When, I wonder, will this Arts Everywhere Fund arrive at what used to be the buzzing cultural centre of the Albert Docks in Liverpool, where the Tate has been closed for more than two years? Where the museum of slavery has closed its doors and where what was a buzzing arts area now looks neglected and abandoned. When will places in the north, such as the once-vibrant towns of Kendal, Barrow and Kirkby Lonsdale, be given the same large sums spent on venue after venue in London? All the towns mentioned above are, incidentally, desperately bidding for UK town of culture 2028 designation in the hope of winning some desperately needed cash to enhance their cultural sector and to bring to these long-neglected and once-thriving centres accessible places where people can share in the joy of music, theatre or heritage, as are enjoyed by our lucky communities in “once neglected areas of London”. Spread the joy, Lisa Nandy, and let’s all have a share in the investment. Let’s have some of that £1.5bn package invested into our northern arts infrastructure, and give some long-awaited parity to those desperately wanting the same advantages seemingly only on offer in London. Christine Baranski Arnside, Cumbria • I agree that the £1.5bn lifebelt the government is throwing out to neglected cultural organisations sounds good. I wonder though, whether a good chunk of that money is going to come back to London. The V&A, a national museum, holding national treasures, has just opened an “outpost” in east London, costing £135m. Hardly an outpost – it’s seven miles away from the main site. Sorry if I’m not whooping for joy. The Arts Council spends approximately £57 on every Londoner and £28 on those in the north. This has to stop. Any future “outposts” need to come north if it’s a national organisation. Sharon Maher New Brighton, Merseyside • Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.