The DCMS budget has already shrunk by 6% in real this year, according to the culture advocacy group Campaign for the Arts, despite an overall growth in spending across government departments. The group highlighted that the UK has one of the lowest levels of government spending on culture among European nations.

Campaign for the Arts has launched a petition calling on the government to restore funding to the DCMS budget, sustain growth in its budget over the next few years, and invest in arts and culture to “catalyse a decade of national renewal”.

“This Labour Government was elected on the promise of a decade of national renewal,” said a statement from Campaign for the Arts.

“By the end of her Spending Review on 11 June, the chancellor will have decided whether the arts are part of the picture: whether to continue to shrink arts and culture funding until 2029, or whether to turn the tide.

“The arts are not a luxury, but an essential ingredient in a healthy society. For us to thrive, the arts must too.”