Funding of the Arts: Recent comments in the Press
Immediately after the election, Polly Toynbee started the ball rolling with her article from her perspective as chair of Brighton Festival: :
There were some responses to this:
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/may/19/how-the-arts-shape-our-nations-politics
But the bombshell hit when it was announced in July that York would start charging for entry to its re-furbished museum:
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jul/23/york-art-gallery-reopen-ceramics-entrance-fee
This was swiftly followed by an article in the Guardian by art critic Jonathan Jones, advocating charging:
There were anguished responses, including this from Lord Chris Smith, who was Culture Secretary in the Blair government , and who oversaw the national museums cease charging – local authority museums followed suite; he is now Chair of the Art Fund:
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jul/24/free-museum-entry-enriches-our-culture
The Observer then took up the argument with Rachel Cooke’s piece:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/26/why-get-into-museums-free
And then there were more responses:
http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2015/aug/02/museum-free-admission-the-big-issue
The main argument is that if the Government is not going to fund the arts, and the squeezed local authorities are not able to provide their historic funding levels, then we end up either with poor quality exhibitions – and no money to enhance collections – or someone has to cough up. But whilst cities like York with large numbers of tourist visitors might be able to increase their income in this way, it is unlikely that Sheffield will – it is more likely to see a drop in visitors numbers if charging is introduced.
NB One way of avoiding the York charges is to become a member of the Art Fund; its national pass enables access to York museums for free, and to many of the special exhibitions up and down the country for significantly reduced rates.
V Seddon 9.8.2015
Notes from Manchester Panel Discussion on Arts Funding, Broadcasting and the Film Industry 9th April 2015
The Federation of Entertainment Unions , which includes Equity, the Musicians Union, BECTU, the National Union of Journalists, Unite, the Professional Footballers Association and the Writers Guild of Great Britain, has organised events across the country in the lead up to the general election to give members of FEU unions an opportunity to put questions about arts and culture to politicians.
The panel discussion was chaired by Equity General Secretary Christine Payne.
The panel consisted of:
Chris Bryant MP, Labour Shadow Minister for the arts and culture.
Damian Collins MP, Conservative member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.
Kieran Turner-Dave, Green Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Manchester Central.
(Nobody was available from the Liberal Democrats.)
Background
The FEU unions represent about 120,000 people in the UK. The creative industries employ about 250,000 people and are worth about £77bn or 5% of GDP. The sector is important for jobs and economic growth. It also has huge value as part of the national way of life and links to other important areas such as tourism, education and social cohesion.
Initial Party Statements on the Cultural Industries
Labour:
Understands the economic arguments but also wants to emphasise the importance of creativity and expression and why the country should not waste its creative talent.
Every child should be educated in arts and culture. A school would not be assessed as 'outstanding' by OFSTED unless it provided good quality teaching in arts and culture subjects.
The BBC represents the UK's biggest investment in creativity. One of our greatest artistic ventures. Hugely respected abroad. Will be properly funded in the future.
Channel 4 will be kept in its current format.
BME representation 'on screen' has reduced over the last 5 years and this must be reversed.
The arts need proper investment across the whole UK - not just in SE England.
Conservative:
Recognises that Manchester is a great city of culture. (The meeting was in Manchester.)
There is much funding for the arts outside the public sector.
The Government has a role in funding the arts but the sector has had to take cuts alongside everything else.
The introduction of Production Tax Credits has brought employment for many people.
Over the next 5 years the party would aim to get the Arts Council its fair share of funding and create tax credits for the industries which would attract investment from abroad.
Green:
Wants to end the public budget cuts and have fewer taxes leading to a different economic model.
Increased investment in the arts.
Arts and Culture would be part of the development of the Northern Powerhouse. Manchester would be a cultural centre for the UK.
Arts and culture would be linked to re-generation and support for ethnic minorities.
Summary of replies from questions
Labour:
The recent statements and debates over proposed Labour cuts to arts budgets this year are wrong. There will not be a £83m cut to the budgets this year, as reported. They wish to protect Arts Council budgets.
Would encourage spending on the arts from the private sector and abroad.
Are encouraging the Treasury to strongly consider the value of the industry.
Young people must have access to live performances.
There can be too much emphasis on the economic value of the arts which can distract from their other values.
Would introduce 0% VAT on live performances.
Felt that Local Authority budget cuts had been a big problem for the sector.
There was a role for private patronage of the arts but currently 90% happened in London.
The private sector model for arts funding is a narrow model. There is a need to have a public sector/private sector mix.
Conservative:
The ACE budget has been cut to a level just above its year 2000 amount. Not massive cuts. Still well funded.
Confirms the need for state support for the arts.
Supports increased spending outside London and agrees there is a concentration of private sector arts funding in London.
Wants better application of equal opportunities in theatres.
Accepts there are 'issues' over the future of the BBC but there is no cross party movement to change its current constitutional position. Against the commercialisation of the BBC believing this would cause huge damage to the arts in the UK.
Green:
The current economic problems had been caused by reckless behaviour by finance organisations. Why are poor people being punished for this?
Keen to encourage creative writing.
Wants investment in the creative industries in Manchester.
Wants funding to be concentrated locally.
Lottery funding should be based on where people want to spend it.
Felt there wastage at the top of Government due to MPs expenses.
Important to get rid of tax avoidance.
Chris Bryant asked Kieran Turner-Dave about the Green party policy of reducing the copyright term on media to 15 years. This policy, if implemented, could have damaging implications for the UK's arts industries. He replied that this was 'old policy' and it might be changed.
Sheffield Visual Arts Group question on Lottery Funding for the Arts:
Following the 2014 Arts and Culture Select Committee's report, what is your view on their recommendation that Arts Lottery Funding should be allocated on a fairer 'per capita' basis than at present? Can you commit your party to this? If so, what is the timetable?
Labour:
There must be a new and agreed method of distribution that allows for the needs of the whole country. At present we take from the poor to give to the rich.
The ACE must be given new instructions about funding distribution.
The National Lottery administration will be required to state where lottery tickets are bought, by constituency.
Future Arts ministers will have their offices outside London, on a moving basis, when Parliament is not sitting.
Conservative:
Agreed with point made in the question - the funding must be made on a fairer basis.
There have been allocation changes since 2010.
More funding must go outside London.
National institutions should get more funding.
Sheffield has provided considerable support to the creative industries.
The cultural industries offered substantial employment.
Green:
Against the austerity cuts.
Education funding needed to ensure free education.
Essential to pay the living wage.
Would redistribute the funding.
The party representatives were asked to say, in one sentence, why you should vote for their parties, based on their arts and culture policies.
Labour:
The two MPs who speak about the arts and culture are passionate about getting jobs in government related to the arts - nothing else.
Conservative:
The arts need a strong economy, which could only be provided by his party.
Greens:
End cuts - tax the rich - provide free education.
Future Positioning in Government
After the meeting all the representatives told me it seemed very unlikely that the DCMS would cease to be a separate department within government.
Election 2015 Responses from Oliver Coppard, Labour, Sheffield Hallam:
Hi Oliver
Many thanks for the election leaflets you have been sending me.
I am very interested in the future of the cultural scene in the UK and I am afraid it will be sidelined in the general election with the vast amount of discussion on the economy, the NHS, the EU and immigration. Could you give me your views on the following questions:
What will you do to ensure that the licence fee is protected and the BBC is properly funded into the future?
Both the Labour Party and I are committed to the BBC being properly funded through the license fee.
Given that the investment in the arts and culture is a key driver of economic growth in the economy, will you reverse cuts that have been imposed since 2010?
I agree with you that the arts are crucial to our prosperity and our society, as are the creative industries more broadly. I previously worked trying to raise the profile of design and innovation in government, so it's an issues close to my heart. The Labour Party will develop a better regional strategy so that the arts funding that is available will be distributed more fairly across our country. We will also put in place a universal entitlement to a creative education for every child and maintain our commitment to universal free admission to museums and galleries.
Given that 63% of people believe that councils should spend at least 50p per person per week on arts, culture and heritage, do you support a duty for local authorities to fund local arts and culture?
As I've said above, we'll make sure that their is a fairer distribution of funding for the arts. I believe in the principle of devolution and I'm also (currently) a local government worker, so I don't necessarily think it's the role of central government to dictate the arts spending of local government.
What will you do to improve representation of all groups in society on stage and screen?
Offer every support I can. do you have any suggestions?
Do you agree that working in the performing arts is a proper, professional job and these workers deserve to be paid as such?
Yes. Absolutely.
What will you do to encourage more entertainment in your constituency?
As above, what would you like to see me do? I have previously worked in local government on arts and cultural projects, so I'd be more than happy to try!
Last Thursday I went to a meeting Manchester organised by the Federation of Entertainment Unions. ( I am a member of the Musicians' Union.) I have attached some notes from the meeting which may interest you. I asked a question on behalf of the Sheffield Visual Arts Group. Sadly the Liberal Democrats did not have a representative at the meeting so I asked Nick Clegg the question at his constituency meeting last Friday. He was unable to reply to it but is contacting me about it. You may like to look at the question which is covered in my notes. I understand the group is sending you this question separately.
Thanks for these Robert.
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