Liverpool City Council is set to extend its flagship Culture and Arts Investment Programme (CAIP) for a further 12 months, safeguarding support for the city’s cultural sector until March 2027.
A report presented to Cabinet on 16 September recommended the extension, which will require one-off funding of £2.245 million. The move follows consultation with the 29 arts organisations currently funded through CAIP, many of which are facing financial pressures from rising costs and reduced reserves.
Extending the current three-year cycle will align CAIP with Arts Council England’s funding timetable, helping organisations plan more strategically. The decision is subject to final budget approval in March 2026.
The additional year will also allow the Council to develop a refreshed CAIP process, shaped by Arts Council England’s review, the Government’s Spending Review, and upcoming devolution changes. It will link directly to the new Liverpool Culture Strategy, due later this year.
Since launching in 2023, CAIP has made a major contribution to the city’s cultural and economic life, generating an estimated £33 million for the local economy, supporting over 4,000 jobs, and attracting 3.4 million attendances in 2023/24.
Looking ahead, projections for 2025/26 suggest the 29 funded organisations will generate nearly £41 million in turnover and deliver more than 12,000 events across the city.
Funded organisations include 20 Stories High, Africa Oyé, BlackFest Ltd, The Bluecoat, Collective Encounters, The Comedy Trust, DaDa Fest, FACT Liverpool, First Take, The Florrie, Homotopia, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, Liverpool Irish Festival, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Luma Creations, Metal Culture, Milap, Open Eye Gallery, Pagoda Arts, Royal Court Liverpool, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Squash Liverpool CIC, Tate Liverpool, Tmesis Theatre, Unity Theatre, Writing on the Wall, Melt, and Sole Rebel.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:
“Liverpool’s cultural sector is one of our greatest assets – economically, socially and creatively. It plays a vital role in shaping our city’s identity, bringing communities together, and driving innovation and opportunity.
“Extending CAIP for another year is a sensible and necessary step to protect jobs, sustain community engagement, and give our cultural organisations the certainty they need to plan ahead. It reflects our commitment to supporting the sector through challenging times – something we are incredibly proud of – and by aligning it with other potential pots of national funding, we’re creating a more strategic and joined-up approach to investment which can only benefit our wonderful arts organisations.
“We will continue to do everything we can to ensure our cultural sector thrives and continues to reflect the diversity and creativity of Liverpool.”
Director and Chief Executive of FACT, Nicola Triscott, said:
“This CAIP extension provides vital stability for FACT to deliver life-enhancing digital and screen art experiences for audiences from across Liverpool, while nurturing the next generation of digital artists, creators and filmmakers. We’re grateful for Liverpool City Council’s investment, which enables us to contribute to the city’s thriving creative economy.”
Chief Executive, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Vanessa Reed, said:
“We are deeply grateful to Liverpool City Council for extending our vital funding for another year. Without the Council’s longstanding support we would not be able to fulfil our mission to transform lives through music – whether on stage at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, in schools, hospitals, or in communities across the city. We also value the City Council’s acknowledgement of our economic impact as the largest music industry employer in the city region. We create jobs, drive tourism and support local businesses, increasing wellbeing and developing skills. The City Council’s support of Liverpool’s vibrant arts and creative economy enables all this life enhancing activity to happen.”
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