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Arts organisations must reach out to everyone, minister says Arts organisations must reach out to all, minister says
(about 9 hours later)
Any arts organisation which receives public money will have to show it is reaching out and increasing access to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, ministers have said. Any arts organisation that receives public money will have to show it is reaching out and improving access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, ministers have said.
The government published the first white paper on culture since Jennie Lee’s groundbreaking report in 1965 and people, when they read the details, will undoubtedly compare and contrast. The government published its white paper on culture on Tuesday, the first since Jennie Lee’s groundbreaking report in 1965, with which the former will undoubtedly be compared.
The white paper launched by the Conservative arts minister, Ed Vaizey, has access at its heart, he said. The Conservative culture minister Ed Vaizey, who launched the white paper, said it had access at its heart. “Our arts, heritage and culture should be fit for all – not just the privileged few. Culture opens doors, improves social mobility and has a huge impact on life chances,” he said.
“Our arts, heritage and culture should be fit for all – not just the privileged few. Culture opens doors, improves social mobility and has a huge impact on life chances,” Vaizey said.
“This bold new vision will put culture firmly at the heart of everyday life and ensure that everyone, no matter what their background, can access and enjoy our incredible arts and culture. It can also help us discover untapped talent that could become Britain’s future stars in these vibrant sectors.”“This bold new vision will put culture firmly at the heart of everyday life and ensure that everyone, no matter what their background, can access and enjoy our incredible arts and culture. It can also help us discover untapped talent that could become Britain’s future stars in these vibrant sectors.”
The white paper sets out an expectation, for the first time, that any museum, theatre, gallery, opera house and arts group which receives British government money “should reach out to everyone, regardless of their background”. The white paper sets out an expectation, for the first time, that any museum, theatre, gallery, opera house or arts group that receives British government money “should reach out to everyone, regardless of their background”.
Arts Council England has been tasked with making sure it happens and then reporting back to government. Arts Council England has the job of ensuring this happens and reporting back to government.
A new “cultural citizens programme” was also announced to give thousands of children from the lowest socioeconomic groups behind-the-scenes access to the arts. A “cultural citizens programme” was also announced to give thousands of children from the lowest socioeconomic groups behind-the-scenes access to the arts.
Vaizey also announced a review into the museums sector, examining local and regional museums and focusing on digital services and storage. It is the first government review of museums for 10 years and will be completed by 2017. One of the liveliest arts policy debates at the moment is culture in the regions, stoked by fears over local authority spending cuts. There is also pressure on Arts Council England to spend a greater proportion of its money outside London.
There will also be “tailored” reviews into Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The white paper is proposing a “great place scheme” to encourage funders, councils, universities and arts organisations from the same area to come together to make culture a core part of local policy planning.
Vaizey announced his white paper last summer and has been consulting widely across the sector ever since. “Culture should never be considered an add-on or a fringe activity,” Vaizey said. “A whole host of organisations would benefit from a closer relationship with culture.”
He announced a review into the museums sector, examining local and regional museums and focusing on digital services and storage. It is the first government review of museums for 10 years and will be completed by 2017.
Vaizey announced his consulted widely across the arts sector since announcing the prospect of the white paper last summer. The report is more a statement of belief than a document proposing major structural changes. Vaizey accepted it might not be seen as radical: “There are lots of radical things you can do which might potentially frighten the horses … it is not my natural instinct to upend things.”
One marked difference between the two white papers is that Vaizey is not proposing significant amounts of money for the arts, unlike Lee who increased the Arts Council’s grant by 30%.
The shadow culture secretary, Maria Eagle, said arts and culture faced “real threat” under the Conservatives.
“The Arts Council’s core grant in aid will have been cut by 36% between 2010 and 2015,” the Labour MP said. “And by 2019 [the Department for Culture, Media and Sport] will have to find its share of £3.5bn of further cuts in 2019-20 to make the chancellor’s budget plans add up. Across the country, local authority funding is under even greater pressure.”
Arts Council England’s chair, Sir Peter Bazalgette, called the white paper “a vote of confidence in the arts and cultural sector and the contribution it makes to all our lives”.
It was also welcomed by the Creative Industries Federation, although said there were gaps. The chief executive, John Kampfner, said: “We welcome all new ways of working to ensure the resilience and long-term success of arts institutions across the UK. We believe that growth and success will, however, be put on a stronger footing only when linked much more closely to the provision of education and to an all-embracing plan for funding and finance.
“We are disappointed that this white paper does not emphasise the inter-connectedness between creative industries companies and arts organisations, and that it does not make the case more strongly for arts teaching in schools.”