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What does the future for the arts look like?

Back in 2015, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan advised teens against studying subjects that fall under the categories of being a humanities class or part of the arts, due to the belief it would hold back students “for the rest of their lives”, but is this really true?

Prior to the recent election, 7 parties were asked, however UKIP and the Green Party refused to give any answers, leaving only 5 responses to each question, the first being what the meaning of the arts is to their party, and if their party would maintain support financially for subjects that are part of the arts. Each party responded positively about the arts, Labour spoke of how the arts helps “broaden our horizons” and contributes “a huge amount to our economy”, and they stated that they would “create a £1billion cultural capital fund to invest and upgrade the UK’s cultural facilities”, however the question remains of what this money would have been created from. Similarly, Conservatives responded that they are “strong supporters of the arts and theatre…” and “want to see the arts flourish”, but only gave the vague answer of “funding will be protected”. The Liberal Democrats stated that the arts are “a fundamental principle… that underpins our vision of society”, and that it would be protected within education by creating an “investment in creative subjects”. Plaid Cymru spoke of how the arts “mean a great deal… a tool to nurture further engagement with our culture and heritage” and financial support would come from pressing for “increases in arts expenditure where possible”, however, this doesn’t sound completely promising, nor reliable. Finally, SNP expressed that “our culture and heritage shapes our experience of our nation, and the world” and that they already try to safeguard the arts to “ensure that Scotland’s unique culture reaches a large audience”.

Later when asked how they would tackle the threat to the arts posed by local authority funding cuts, the parties once again replied in similar ways. Plaid Cymru and SNP both communicated delivering organised cultural activities, and encouraging arts activities within the community. The Liberal Democrats gave a vague answer of ensuring that “all culturally valuable organisations retained their funding status”, however did not mention how they would do so. Labour gave the answer of promising to “end cuts to local authorities” and to use the fund to make culture facilities “more financially resilient”. Conservatives promised to work “very closely with the arts council to ensure all areas get the public support for the arts that they need… ensure local authorities are incentivised to support the arts and are rewarded for doing so”.

When later questioned about the diversity in theatre, and accessibility to careers in the theatre, the parties answered in different ways. Dodging the question, the Conservatives responded that it's “vital” to enhance diversity, and that “every institution needs to play it’s part”, whereas Labour announced they would “work with unions and employers to agree sector-specific advice and guidelines on pay and employment standards”. SNP spoke of committing to “a cultural strategy based on access, equity, and excellence…” due to “equality is a key element”, similar to Plaid Cymru policy of ensuring that “everybody has access to the arts and take to part… diversity of not just ethnic backgrounds but also social”, giving everyone an “equal chance to thrive”. The Liberal Democrats told of how “it is also essential that diversity is as much about those behind the scenes as on the stage or screen”, and that they would promote the creative subjects within schools to “stimulate the growth of take-up of these subjects in higher education and careers”.


Theresa May has been fighting for a minority government, but what will this mean for the arts? It’s claimed that the minority government will give “strong support for the arts” in the UK, with a focus on allocating more support outside of the London area. It’s also been talked of the Conservatives wanting to “see the arts flourish and see that success spread across the country”, which can only happen, supposedly, if “the UK has a strong economy”, something which the party has claimed that no other party can achieve.

Information from - https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2017/election-2017-what-are-the-arts-policies/

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