“Much in the Government’s and Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) response to the Hodge Review will support the sector to better deliver brilliant theatre and work with schools and communities across England.

“The RSC welcomes the commitment to greater certainty for arts funding through the redesign of the NPO programme and the introduction of longer funding rounds. The development of a data and insight strategy to foster greater sector-wide collaboration could be transformative. To ensure its potential impact is maximised, we would welcome ACE bringing the sector together to make the best use of these insights in delivering shared goals that support and sustain a thriving cultural ecosystem.

“We stand ready to support cross-Government assessment of interventions that will bolster growth, such as incentivising philanthropic giving and tax reliefs, which are much needed to ensure financial resilience in a sector that – while vibrant – is fragile in parts.

“The RSC firmly believes that every child should have access to high-quality arts education, and we warmly welcome this commitment as recognised in today’s response. Through our work with over 300 schools in over 100 towns and cities across England, we are ready to help deliver on the Government’s ambition, continuing to build strong relationships with schools in areas of structural disadvantage.”