Margaret Hodge lays out Labour’s track record on the arts and proposes shielding culture from cuts.
It is easy in the present frenzy, when it’s fashionable to ridicule politicians, to forget about the things that this Labour Government has achieved. Arts funding has been hugely increased over the past decade, and stability has been enjoyed by many arts organisations. Arts Council England has seen a real terms increase of 83% in its funding, and the National Lottery has contributed in a vital way to our cultural infrastructure. This investment has ensured that artistic endeavour and creativity can flourish, and we now enjoy an unrivalled position in the world for cultural excellence.
Free admission to national museums has led to visitor numbers growing by 124% since the policy was introduced in 2001. The McMaster Report has helped define the Labour Government’s values for the arts, placing excellence at the heart, and putting to bed the false dichotomy between access and excellence. We cannot afford to let these important changes be undermined.
The Dutch Government has exempted culture and the media from its public expenditure cuts programme. I would want to persuade my colleagues to do something similar. Expenditure on the arts represents a very small part of the public expenditure budget, yet a cut has an enormous impact on the cultural infrastructure. Of course we should always seek efficiencies in administrative costs, but don’t pretend that those savings will be enough to meet the cuts the Tories seek in public spending. So, making the case for the arts and culture budget is my number one priority for the future. Not only do the arts help raise our spirits and enrich our lives, but they define who we are, where we live. They contribute to the creative industries, where we lead the world and where future growth is vital for economic prosperity. And in both education and regeneration, they can be a wonderful catalyst for change and improvement.
I also want to ensure a proper regional spread in investment. Whether it’s through Arts Council England, or the Renaissance in the Regions programme for museums, or our Sea Change programme where we support cultural investment in struggling seaside towns, investment in the arts and culture across the whole of Britain is vital. Arts and culture matter. We’ve got a good record over the last 12 years. Don’t let anybody destroy it.
Margaret Hodge MP is Arts Minister at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
w http://www.culture.gov.uk