Jarvis says Government is “Missing the C from DCMS”

Shadow Culture Minister Dan Jarvis is speaking out against the damage the Government is doing to the cultural sector today, as he addresses the Association of British Orchestras at its annual conference at the Theatre Royal, Leeds. His speech picks up three themes that have been of most concern to the arts sector in recent months – the lack of creative subjects in the proposed English Baccalaureate (EBacc), the lack of strategy for the long term sustainability of the arts, and the lack of policy for jobs and growth in the sector. Criticising Culture Secretary Maria Miller for ignoring any commitment to arts and culture in her Mid-Term Review plan for the DCMS published at the end of last year, he reveals Labour’s commitments as being nurturing creative skills and education, building an international reputation, protecting and investing in the creative industries and creating a regional strategy so that opportunities are available outside of London. The Labour Party is currently consulting across the arts sector in order to create an integrated approach, “So that music and culture is not just in a silo at the DCMS.”