Arts organisations face going out of business as swingeing cuts to their budgets are announced. Arts Editor Lorne Jackson talks to the Arts Council’s regional director about what the future holds.

Everybody has been trying to get in touch today,” said Ros Robins, West Midlands Director for Arts Council England, “And I don’t know why.”

She’s joking, of course. There is a very good reason for the fevered interest.

Arts Council England has just unveiled its new ‘national portfolio of funded organisations’, the list of arts organisations which have won funding under a new system implemented in November 2010.

For the first time, arts organisations have had to fill in a lengthy application form, explaining why they deserve money from the public purse.

In the past, the system was less transparent, involving monitoring organisations and holding discussions with key individuals.

The new method, introduced before the Arts Council had its own funding cut by 29.6 per cent, aims to be entirely open to scrutiny. However, the tighter budget means many local arts organisations will be stripped of funding.

Robins admits that without Arts Council funding, some organisations will probably go out of business.

“I suspect some of these organisations might fold if they’re not able to adapt their business model,” she says.

“But what we’re doing now doesn’t come into effect until next year. They’ve still got funding for 11/12. So they’ve got a year to figure out what to do. To look at their business model and their other funding partners.”

The Arts Council will hand out £132.6 million to arts organisations in the region over three years from next April.

Sixty-six organisations in the West Midlands previously received money. That number will shrink to 51. Eight new organisations will get funding, with 18 losing out.

Some arts organisations merged together during the bidding process and will receive joint funding.

Those losing out include Malvern Theatres, singing group Black Voices and Asian dance outfit, Chitralekha.

Among those to benefit are Writing West Midlands, organisers of the Birmingham Book Festival, and avant garde theatre group, Stan’s Cafe, which enjoys an increase in financial help.

“The way we’ve approached this has been fair,” said Ms Robins. “We’ve dealt with each organisation absolutely on their own merit. It’s a two-stage process.

“First of all, there’s the assessment based on the application. Then it’s been a process of balancing the portfolio, meaning we had to have a look regionally and nationally at the balance of organisations that were funded.

“Then make sure that there is a balance of companies across the country.

“For instance, that there aren’t too many theatre companies, and not enough literature.

“Also that there aren’t too many big organisations and not enough smaller ones. And that there is a proper balance geographically, meaning towns and rural areas are highlighted, not just Birmingham.”

She added: “Our goals are excellence. To provide the West Midlands with great art. But the ‘for everyone’ is equally important. Getting that great art out to audiences.”

Organisations that have won funding have had to tick several boxes.