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Jeremy Corbyn pledges to reverse BBC and Arts Council cuts Jeremy Corbyn proposes more support to local artists and vows to defend BBC
(about 3 hours later)
Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has said he would fight to reverse cuts to the BBC and arts funding. Public art could be installed in all open spaces and new big buildings to help support the incomes of painters and other creative artists, Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has suggested.
The Islington North MP made the promise as he set out his manifesto for the arts, although he did not provide an estimate of how much would be restored to them. The leadership frontrunner, who writes poetry and enjoys abstract paintings, raised the possibility of changes to the planning system to place an obligation on developers and local councils to fund local art as he launched his creative manifesto.
In his speech in Dalston, north London, Corbyn’s main message was that he wanted Labour to promote art for all, and that there was a novel, poem and painting in everyone.
He also made proposals about arts funding, including reversing government cuts, ringfencing cash given to local councils to promote culture and asking developers to contribute cash for public art.
Stressing that he was only making proposals, not firm policy, Corbyn said: “You can do things in planning. You can require public art to be placed in all open spaces. You can require it in all new big buildings. You can do what the Dutch do, which is to insist on a contribution to local arts funds by any major developments going on. There are lots of innovative things you can do. That in turn helps to bring an income stream to creative artists, painters and many others.”
At the event, Corbyn also vowed to defend the BBC, suggesting it could be lost, and UK broadcasting could end up commercialised like in America, due to cuts made by the Conservative government.
“If you look at what’s happened in the US … there was once relatively well-funded public service broadcasting but it has been systematically underfunded and almost totally destroyed. The news values in the US are now largely set by Fox News. That is where you end up if you encourage a total free market in commercially led broadcasting,” he said.
The Islington North MP did not provide an estimate of how much money he would like be restored to the BBC. But in his arts policy document, Corbyn said Labour “must be at the forefront of the campaigning to defend the licence fee as a means of funding the BBC and to reverse the year-on-years cuts, which have severely wounded one of the world’s most respected broadcasting organisations”.
On the reversal of arts funding cuts, he said this must be restored “as the economy recovers” and this must remain separate from lottery cash for the arts.
Arts Council funding has been cut by at least £83m but the Labour party would not commit to reversing the budget reduction before the last election.Arts Council funding has been cut by at least £83m but the Labour party would not commit to reversing the budget reduction before the last election.
The party has, however, vowed to defend the BBC against cuts, with Chris Bryant, the shadow culture secretary, warning that the government’s demands for savings from the BBC risk ruining Britain’s “strongest cultural institution”.The party has, however, vowed to defend the BBC against cuts, with Chris Bryant, the shadow culture secretary, warning that the government’s demands for savings from the BBC risk ruining Britain’s “strongest cultural institution”.
In his arts policy document, Corbyn said Labour “must be at the forefront of the campaigning to defend the licence fee as a means of funding the BBC and to reverse the year-on-years cuts, which have severely wounded one of the world’s most respected broadcasting organisations”.
He said arts funding must be restored “as the economy recovers” and this must remain separate from lottery cash for the arts.
The document sets out plans for every child to have the opportunity to “develop their creativity at school” by learning an instrument, participating in drama or dance and having regular access to a theatre, gallery or museum in their local area at least once every academic year or term.
Corbyn set out his plans at an event attended by celebrities including former Coronation Street actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, who this weekend described Corbyn as having founded a movement for people who “give a toss about stuff”. The introduction to the arts document was written by author and playwright Frank Cottrell Boyce.
Corbyn pledged to set up a cabinet committee for the arts, to give performers more protection against low wages and tackle unpaid internships through a “living waged national creative apprenticeship service”.Corbyn pledged to set up a cabinet committee for the arts, to give performers more protection against low wages and tackle unpaid internships through a “living waged national creative apprenticeship service”.
“A successful economy and a healthy, creative, open and vibrant democratic society depend on a flourishing creative sector,” Corbyn said. “Culture and the arts play an essential role in individual and community wellbeing. If we are to achieve our goal in government of supporting people in leading more enjoyable and fulfilling lives, funding for the arts must be central to that offer.“A successful economy and a healthy, creative, open and vibrant democratic society depend on a flourishing creative sector,” Corbyn said. “Culture and the arts play an essential role in individual and community wellbeing. If we are to achieve our goal in government of supporting people in leading more enjoyable and fulfilling lives, funding for the arts must be central to that offer.
“If elected Labour leader, I pledge to work alongside the creative industries to support, develop and collectively achieve a culturally rich, more prosperous future for our country.”“If elected Labour leader, I pledge to work alongside the creative industries to support, develop and collectively achieve a culturally rich, more prosperous future for our country.”