Director of Campaign for the Arts, Jack Gamble, said he was “utterly dismayed” by BCC’s funding cuts, adding: “What’s happening in Birmingham is extreme but far from an isolated phenomenon. Eight councils have effectively declared bankruptcy since 2018, more than in the 30 years before that.

“Leaders in national and local government urgently need to come together and grasp this nettle. One in four councillors think it’s likely their councils will go under before the end of the year because of a lack of funding to keep key services running. Without action now, arts access across the nation is critically at risk.”