The ongoing investigation into conflicts of interest in the awarding of Cultural Olympiad arts funding has now led to reports in the Yorkshire Times.

As previously reported by HMI Olympics, the application process in Yorkshire saw the awarding of funds breaking rules that “artist-led and that local authorities and higher education institutions were ineligible”.

The Yorkshire Times reports:

“Since her initial allegations 70 Yorkshire artists and others have rallied round to support her and question how the Arts Council operated its procedures for awarding the contract for ATTL.

“Ms Lee’s concerns will fuel rumours in the Yorkshire arts world, that have been circulating for some time, that funding for organisations and projects tends to go to those whose “faces fit”. There is evidence that a number of individuals and small arts organisations, whose work has been recognised as high quality, will no longer submit grant applications to the Arts Council, having been turned down several times in the past without adequate explanation. Those who continue to apply are not keen to speak out because they fear they will be disadvantaged when they make future bids for funding.”