We tend to steer clear of politics on the Spectator arts blog, leaving that to our blog brethren over at Coffee House. But this week we're making an exception for a series of posts, from all sides of the debate, on arts funding during the cuts. And to get us started, this: a post from Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture Communications and Creative Industries. Do, as always, have your say in the comments section.
We’re lucky in this country to have some of the finest arts organisations in the world, and some of the best practitioners of the arts. Despite the fact that we are facing the toughest economic challenge in decades, we’re determined to continue supporting the arts. No one denies that this is going to be a very tough time. But we have done our best to secure the support the arts will need in the next few years.
Overall, the arts will receive more than £2.2 billion in the next four years — just £150 million less than was invested in the previous four. Huge increases in Lottery funding
mean that the budgets for the Arts Council and for heritage (which provides funding for many of our regional museums) will fall overall by just 11 per cent and 2 per cent in real terms over the
next four years. (While grant in aid for the Arts Council is falling by just under 30 per cent, Lottery funding is rising by 43 per cent, making the overall fall just 11 per cent.) Free admission
to our national museums will continue, with their grant falling by just 15 per cent. Film funding will increase by 60 per cent, with the tax credit, worth £100 million a year, maintained.
Funding to teach children music in schools has been kept at current levels.
In a very, very tough funding round, I think Jeremy Hunt did a great job in ensuring that we cut the frontline last and least. We both absolutely believe in the importance of public subsidy for the
arts, and we want to maintain it now and into the future. Public funding helps support private giving, and helps to maintain organisations whose work not only brings pleasure to millions, but is a
vital investment for the commercial arts.
While we have fought hard for funding, the size of the cheque is not the beginning and the end of the debate when it comes to arts policy. We also want to move forward in a whole range of
areas.
The Budget was the first step-change to increase the opportunities presented by philanthropy, particularly for smaller organisations outside London. There is now an inheritance tax break for people
who leave a legacy to an arts organisation; and other changes in the rules to help with Gift Aid and thanking donors. We’ve also set aside £80 million of new money as a match funding
pot, to act as a real incentive and to significantly boost the fundraising efforts of arts organisations around the country.
Technology presents a huge opportunity for the arts. As Michael Kaiser has noted, the arts need to
embrace technology to engage with new audiences and new ways of doing things. We’ve worked with the Arts Council to set up a joint innovation fund with NESTA, and we’ll be bringing in
new partners — like the Technology Strategy Board — to take this forward.
Giving children the opportunity to learn about the arts and music — and to participate — is also crucial. The Henley Review will lead to a National Music Plan this year which will help
co-ordinate the efforts of local councils, arts organisations and philanthropists in music education. Henley Two is now underway to look at doing the same thing for cultural education.
Alongside Government, local authorities provide a crucial role in supporting the arts. We’ll be working with them to establish Local Cultural Partnerships, to help the arts work together
across boundaries, bringing together different funding sources to ensure a much more sustainable future.
I’m looking forward to the debate this week on this blog. I’m confident that when people pause to look at what funds and support are actually out there, they will see that the
opportunities far outweigh the threats. Yes it’s tough, but it is tough for everyone. Arts organisations can look to substantial funds still with the Arts Council, new opportunities for
philanthropy, the power of technology, and above all their unique creativity, to get them through an economic situation that none of us wanted to be in in the first place.