The government’s role in the arts is a simple but challenging one. We have a responsibility to support and encourage; creating the right circumstances to enable the creative industries and the arts to thrive whilst not interfering and over burdening and defending the fundamental principle that art and culture are for everyone, not just a privileged few.
We also have the added challenge of achieving this in a financial climate more testing than most of us will ever have lived through. This government, quite rightly, is talking to the public and our key sectors about the tough spending decisions that need to be taken but I want to be equally clear about those things that we are absolutely committed to protecting. Let there be no ambiguity - arts and culture, under this government are important and are part of the mainstream of our policy – not an ‘add-on’ or a ‘wouldn’t it be nice to’.
We have an opportunity to adjust the lens through which we see funding for the arts and create a structure that is more resilient and less vulnerable to changing economic circumstances. The UK’s sustained success in the arts and culture is underpinned by a combination of funding from public and private sources, box office and commercial revenue, and I am determined that government plays its part in supporting this.
We are restoring the national lottery back to fund the four good causes that it was originally designed for, giving more to arts and culture. This change would mean in excess of £100 million each year for arts and heritage.
We want to see a wider commitment to cultural philanthropy. It shouldn’t be hard for individuals or for businesses or private investors to donate to good causes. We will make it easier for people to make personal donations and are committed to reforming Gift Aid – by making it simpler we think that more people will give. We want changes to the Acceptance-in-lieu Scheme, which, for decades has saved numerous valuable works for the nation. Extending this scheme could make it possible for donors to give works of art to the nation during their lifetimes; this could make a huge difference.
And we want a significant change in the funding guarantees that are given to high- performing arts organisations. We want to reward them; giving longer term funding settlements that would allow them to plan better for the future and give them greater confidence to approach sponsors and donors.
When it comes to the principle of the arts and culture for the many we support free admission to museums and galleries. In the UK we have the greatest concentration of leading galleries and museums in the world, showing outstanding works and hosting inspirational exhibitions – but what good are they if only those that can afford it get to see them?
Finally, we firmly believe that the development of real and practical skills in the arts and music is intrinsic to a full and well-balanced education and is the cornerstone of creativity. We need to get children and young people engaged in arts and culture are committed to improving arts in our schools, not just because it’s a nice thing to do but because evidence shows that proper training in music and the arts improves young people’s abilities in other ways, for example, in how good they are at taking in verbal information.
So while the arts and cultural sector will feel its share of the painful spending decisions that are being taken there is a lot to be optimistic about. I hope it’s not too clichéd to say that out of these kinds of adverse circumstances opportunities are created to innovate and do things differently. Politicians need to lead by example and I believe wholeheartedly that our nation’s talents in the arts and creative industries will help us to come out of this economic crisis with a stronger and more profitable and more inclusive sector.
Article by Ed Vaizey MP, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, who was invited to contribute to artistsandmakers.com at a time when government funding for the arts is under considerable scrutiny.