Ongoing real-terms cuts to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport funding are putting cultural institutions such as Historic England, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the V&A and Tate at risk, a campaign group has warned.

Analysis conducted by Campaign for the Arts (CFTA) has found the government budget allocated to DCMS – known as its Departmental Expenditure Limit – is £2.29bn for the current financial year (2025/26) – 3.4% down on the £2.37bn in 2024/25.

However, the real terms figure for 2025/26, once inflation is taken into account, is £2.23bn – which is 5.9% down on last year.