Local authorities have cut spending on cultural services by 4.2 per cent since 2012/13, according to figures compiled by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

The figures show a projected total spend on cultural services across England in 2013/2014 to be £2.7bn, a reduction of around £124m spent during the previous financial year.

These reductions in local authority spending come alongside cuts to other funding, including the Renaissance and the Cultural Leadership programme.

“Cumulatively this means that some museums must be approaching meltdown,” according to Mark Taylor, director of the Museums Association.

“There comes a point when museums cannot absorb cuts and struggle on, and we are now approaching that point.”

The figures revealing budget estimates of local authority revenue expenditure and financing for 2013 to 2014 can be found here: http://lei.sr?a=k5Q6n