A collective sense of sheepishness seems to pervade arts organisations when it comes to fighting the corner for our industry and our livelihoods. Be it a fear of the whining luvvy tag or a weariness of constantly having to argue the case for the arts, lobbying is the one area of PR that many arts organisations (unlike Arts Council England, for instance (p3)) seem to steer clear of. Perhaps they?re missing a trick.
Following the publication of the consultation paper ?Private Action Public Benefit? in 2002, which set out proposals for charity reform (p1), certain interest groups mobilised and campaigned to great effect. Independent schools, which at that stage were under threat of having their charitable status revoked, formed the largest and most vocal group of respondents to the consultation. The draft Charity Bill suggests that their status will now be preserved. Other issues that were up for consultation ? including proposals to allow charities to trade without the need to set up a trading company ? are of critical importance to many in the arts, yet this particular proposal has mysteriously disappeared in its passage towards the draft Bill. By failing to speak up now, the arts are once more in danger of being driven by the agendas of those with the loudest voices, and losing the opportunity to shape the future legislative landscape.
Published: 31-05-2004