It begins...

As reported, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had offered to make a number of cuts to reduce its budget.

In keeping with his promises, on 14 October Jeremy Hunt announced that 19 of the 55 DCMS public bodies are being abolished or reformed.

Bodies that will be abolished include the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council which was responsible for improvement and innovation in the area of museums, libraries and archives, as well as the Advisory Council on Libraries, the Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection and the UK Film Council.

Thankfully, a number of the Arts bodies are to be retained and will continue to function, including the Arts Council England and the major national and London art galleries and museums.