WIREDGOV

On 19 May 2010 the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, announced legislation that could see arts, heritage and sport each receiving an extra £50 million a year in Lottery funding.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently consulting on this proposal and you can take part in this process at the DCMS website.

It's vital that government hears directly from front line arts organisations about how the distinct benefits of additional Lottery funding would help you to deliver your work on the ground.

Your views are particularly valuable in light of the reductions to public funding we know are coming in future years, and which will make the Lottery contribution to the arts all the more important.

The consultation proposes re-balancing Lottery shares in two stages, returning 18 per cent each to arts, heritage and sports by April 2011, and to 20 per cent by April 2012. This would eventually reduce the share currently held by the Big Lottery Fund to 40 per cent.

Arts Council England will continue to make the case for minimising reductions to public investment in the arts. Returning the Lottery to its original causes, though a positive move, will not mitigate the potential impact of larger scale public spending cuts, and we will continue to make that point. However, Lottery funds remain an important part of the funding ecology and we must ensure that we make our case for the increased share that, if delivered, this consultation will afford us.

To take part in the consultation and make your views heard visit the DCMS website. The consultation closes on 21 August 2010.