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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/13/matt-hancock-artists-health-secretary
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| Art on prescription? Try funding the artists first | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The health secretary has had a wonderful idea. No, not a revamp of his app. Not the NHS making greater use of technology (by which he means apps again). Obviously, not generous funding for the NHS. No, Matt Hancock is considering cultural prescribing: for certain long-term illnesses, GPs will be encouraged to prescribe dance, mix tapes and gallery visits. Brilliant and hooray! He’s discovered culture – or, more accurately, that cultural engagement has health benefits, in that art encourages wellbeing. | The health secretary has had a wonderful idea. No, not a revamp of his app. Not the NHS making greater use of technology (by which he means apps again). Obviously, not generous funding for the NHS. No, Matt Hancock is considering cultural prescribing: for certain long-term illnesses, GPs will be encouraged to prescribe dance, mix tapes and gallery visits. Brilliant and hooray! He’s discovered culture – or, more accurately, that cultural engagement has health benefits, in that art encourages wellbeing. |
| The NHS is facing another winter crisis, and female life expectancy has declined – this won’t fix that. I suffer from multiple sclerosis, a progressive illness. I am excited about the possibilities of new drug treatment, especially breakthrough stem-cell therapy, but even in a low moment would be quite miffed if I was offered a voucher to see some juggling, or an unsolicited mix tape featuring the uplifting musical stylings of Adele. But Hancock is focusing on the restorative, curative power of art as a complementary treatment, not a sole cure-all. | The NHS is facing another winter crisis, and female life expectancy has declined – this won’t fix that. I suffer from multiple sclerosis, a progressive illness. I am excited about the possibilities of new drug treatment, especially breakthrough stem-cell therapy, but even in a low moment would be quite miffed if I was offered a voucher to see some juggling, or an unsolicited mix tape featuring the uplifting musical stylings of Adele. But Hancock is focusing on the restorative, curative power of art as a complementary treatment, not a sole cure-all. |
| And cultural engagement does make us feel better: a good gig definitely lifts the spirits. The Glasgow Centre for Population Health has some excellent research on the health benefits of cultural engagement from, among other projects, the excellent Sistema youth orchestras. | And cultural engagement does make us feel better: a good gig definitely lifts the spirits. The Glasgow Centre for Population Health has some excellent research on the health benefits of cultural engagement from, among other projects, the excellent Sistema youth orchestras. |
| But I am also an artist and, like most people in the “creative industries” (how we all hate that phrase), I am frequently not paid for my work, to the extent that the notion of earning money from practising as an artist is unusual. But if it becomes government policy to use our work to make everyone better? That would be fantastic – and presumably we would be paid in return. So I should be rejoicing? I find it hard to be optimistic, as the financial advances that allow writers to spend time writing are shrinking; visual artists are affected by lower lottery receipts going to funding bodies, with some gallerists even boasting that they never pay us; and musicians are failing to cobble together a few pennies from Spotify playlists. | But I am also an artist and, like most people in the “creative industries” (how we all hate that phrase), I am frequently not paid for my work, to the extent that the notion of earning money from practising as an artist is unusual. But if it becomes government policy to use our work to make everyone better? That would be fantastic – and presumably we would be paid in return. So I should be rejoicing? I find it hard to be optimistic, as the financial advances that allow writers to spend time writing are shrinking; visual artists are affected by lower lottery receipts going to funding bodies, with some gallerists even boasting that they never pay us; and musicians are failing to cobble together a few pennies from Spotify playlists. |
| It is a Conservative government that allowed this to happen. It is the reason why it’s Stem not Steam that is prioritised: science, technology, engineering and maths, with art as a subject neglected and deemed irrelevant to education for developing national industrial exports, despite the fact that Britain is a very successful exporter of the arts. The cuts forced on education and councils have hacked at funds for after-school music lessons. Westminster seems to believe art is a luxury – fine for private, but not state, schools. | It is a Conservative government that allowed this to happen. It is the reason why it’s Stem not Steam that is prioritised: science, technology, engineering and maths, with art as a subject neglected and deemed irrelevant to education for developing national industrial exports, despite the fact that Britain is a very successful exporter of the arts. The cuts forced on education and councils have hacked at funds for after-school music lessons. Westminster seems to believe art is a luxury – fine for private, but not state, schools. |
| So, who will make this advantageous, beneficial, health-bestowing culture? Where are all the artists now? In my circles, artists are poor and giving up their practice, struggling to feed their families. The rollout of the execrable chaos that is universal credit and its conditional nature, where self-employed artists must demonstrate their ability to earn money from their “creative business”, means artists are sanctioned for non-compliance with the conditions imposed on all claimants. I’ve even heard of that rarity, Creative Scotland funding, being recommended as a career opportunity in Glasgow by jobcentre advisers, who clearly do not know there is slim chance of a successful application since arts funding is in short supply and over-subscribed. | So, who will make this advantageous, beneficial, health-bestowing culture? Where are all the artists now? In my circles, artists are poor and giving up their practice, struggling to feed their families. The rollout of the execrable chaos that is universal credit and its conditional nature, where self-employed artists must demonstrate their ability to earn money from their “creative business”, means artists are sanctioned for non-compliance with the conditions imposed on all claimants. I’ve even heard of that rarity, Creative Scotland funding, being recommended as a career opportunity in Glasgow by jobcentre advisers, who clearly do not know there is slim chance of a successful application since arts funding is in short supply and over-subscribed. |
| When will someone tell Hancock that it’s his government closing libraries, his government overseeing universal credit, and his government slashing funding for the arts? When he finds out, he might need to rethink his latest wheeze. | When will someone tell Hancock that it’s his government closing libraries, his government overseeing universal credit, and his government slashing funding for the arts? When he finds out, he might need to rethink his latest wheeze. |
| • Penny Anderson is a writer and artist | • Penny Anderson is a writer and artist |
| Arts funding | Arts funding |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| NHS | NHS |
| Health | Health |
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