Dance Mapping - Arts Council England

With the above limitations in mind, this remains a rich area for research. The data therefore
has been analysed with a view to looking at trends rather than the accuracy of the data
provided.
A cautionary note applies to other data in this section. Data from local authorities has been
gathered through questionnaires. The information gathered depends on who filled it in, this
was not in the control of the researchers. The survey failed to attract data from the major
metropolitan authorities, who spend significant amounts supporting dance. What the survey
did achieve was a response from the counties and is analysed with this in mind.
The private sector survey by Arts & Business gives a picture of the organisations they are
involved with and who have completed returns; it is not the full picture, but does indicate
trends in private giving.
However, despite this it is possible, from the data available, to see how investment in dance
and the arts is moving and the gaps and issues that dance should address. This report was
begun before the credit crunch and only now can one begin to see the impact on the arts
economy. This is discussed more fully in Part Three: Political.
Dance funding – the regularly funded organisations portfolio
The regularly funded organisations portfolio for dance includes a range of diverse
organisations working in a range of dance genres, including South Asian dance, African
people’s dance and dance led by disabled people. The analysis of the regularly funded
organisations portfolio is analysed by region not by genre and reflects the definition of
contemporary dance in Part One of this research. Later in this section Grants for the arts
figures are analysed and here the Arts Council has sub-divided areas of dance. The genres
mentions above are classed in ‘Other’.
Only literature and combined arts receive less Arts Council England funding than dance. The
investment in dance from 2008/9–2011/12 will increase by 10.4%. The table below shows the
amount and percentage increase year on year from 2008/9–2010/11 for all artforms.
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