nalgao yesterday launched ‘Outside In’, a study examining the issues and opportunities in contracting out local authority arts services.  The report was launched at a seminar of the same name in London attended by 180 people.  Produced by Paul Kelly of Cultural Futures and Rick Bond of The Complete Works, the 60 page ‘Outside In’ report identifies five different ways that local authority arts services can be externalised.  The report authors talked to nine different organisations about the issues and benefits involved in alternative ways of delivering arts services and their report is packed with anecdotal detail and practical checklists.

The ‘Outside In’ report also briefly examines the opportunities offered by Strategic Commissioning which is increasingly being undertaken by local authority childrens’ services and care services. 

Lorna Brown, Chair of nalgao said, “At a time of growing pressure on local authority arts services, nalgao considered alternative delivery mechanisms at its conference last October and the possibility these offered of protecting long-established arts services.  We realised we needed to share authoritative information with our members. It has taken just four months from our conference to the release of this well researched, valuable and timely report. That must be something of a record in local government response times.  I am delighted that nalgao is able to offer its members this valuable advice. We are looking to build on this excellent research over the year ahead with updates on our website.”

The ‘Outside In’ report was produced with the financial support of Arts Council England.
 
Click here to download the Outside In report.