Government investment in the arts is to be boosted over the next three years, with the announcement yesterday of an extra £50 millon for Arts Council England by 2011. The funding body’s grant will rise from £417 million this year to £467 million in 2010-11.

Grants to England’s national museums and galleries will rise from £302 million this year to £332 million in 2010-11, slightly above inflation.

But English Heritage now fears the worst. Next week, James Purnell, the Culture Secretary, will announce its funding for the next three years. The heritage body is calling for him to reverse cuts over the last decade that amount to some £100 million.

Simon Thurley, its chief executive, said: “What they seem to have said is that the Government’s priority is museums and the Arts Council.

“Yet we know that heritage is virtually the nation’s favourite hobby. Many more people visit heritage sites than museums and galleries or football matches, yet it’s starved of funds.”

He also said that a crisis was looming over churches, among many historic buildings that are decaying. “Who’s going to pay for it? Where’s the money going to come from?”

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