Arts Hustings 2024

This is the video from the Arts Hustings event for the 2024 elections focusing on the arts, culture, and heritage sector in the UK. Lizzie Crump and Jack Gamble, co-directors of What Next and the Campaign for the Arts, respectively, introduce the event. They emphasize the non-partisan nature of the discussion and the goal of shedding light on party positions regarding arts and culture.

Key participants include:

• Suzanne Alain: A cultural thinker discussing power dynamics in the arts.
• Baroness Deborah Bull: Chair of the event, former principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, and creative director of the Royal Opera House.

The panel comprises representatives from various UK political parties who discuss their policies on arts and culture:

• Stephen Parkinson (Conservatives): Emphasizes increased funding for the Arts Council and the need for its independent operation.
• Jack Lennox (Green Party): Advocates for broad access to the arts and highlights the importance of independence from government interference.
• Chris Bryant (Labour): Stresses the importance of arts in society and the need for a comprehensive review of the Arts Council.
• Jan Bonham Carter (Liberal Democrats): Supports multi-year settlements for councils and emphasizes the importance of independent arts organizations.
• Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru): Advocates for a cultural strategy that ensures accessibility to arts for all demographics.
• Shan Molland (Alliance Party): Discusses the need for better funding and advocacy for the arts, emphasizing the role of the Arts Council.
• Claire Hanna (SDLP): Highlights the underfunding of the arts in Northern Ireland and advocates for better support for creative workers.

The event also covers topics like local government funding, support for freelancers, and the inclusion of disabled people in the arts. The representatives discuss various strategies to improve funding, accessibility, and participation in the arts across the UK, highlighting the importance of maintaining the arts as a vital part of society.

The main topics discussed in the hustings were:

1. Role and Funding of Arts Councils

• The purpose and independence of Arts Councils.
• The necessity of funding arts organizations to foster innovation and accessibility.
• Reviews and reforms needed for better operation and impact of Arts Councils.

2. Local Government Funding for the Arts

• The significant reduction in local government funding for the arts since 2010.
• Strategies to restore and increase funding for local cultural institutions like museums, libraries, and theatres.
• The economic and social benefits of investing in local arts.

3. Support for Freelancers in the Arts

• The unique challenges faced by freelancers in the creative sector.
• Policies to provide equitable working conditions, fair pay, and financial support.
• The impact of Brexit on touring artists and the need for easier travel arrangements.

4. Inclusion of Disabled People in the Arts

• Ensuring accessibility for disabled artists, participants, and audiences.
• The role of the Arts in advocating for and improving the rights of disabled people.
• Specific measures to improve access to artistic spaces and events for disabled individuals.

5. Arts and Creativity in Education

• The place of arts subjects and creativity in the school curriculum.
• The importance of arts education from early years through higher education.
• Addressing cuts and closures of arts courses in universities and promoting their value.

6. Wider Public Policy Contributions of the Arts

• The role of arts and culture in broader public policy areas such as social change, health and well-being, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
• Specific examples of how the arts can positively impact other sectors and societal issues.

These topics were addressed by representatives from various political parties, each outlining their perspectives and proposed policies to enhance the arts and culture sector in the UK.

Differences Between Parties

The main differences between the political parties in regard to participatory arts discussed in the hustings can be summarized as follows:

Conservatives

• Support and Funding: Highlighted increased funding for the Arts Council and emphasized the role of arts and culture in delivering broader societal benefits, such as health and economic growth.
• Independence: Stressed the importance of the Arts Council operating independently of government interference.
• Programs and Initiatives: Mentioned specific programs like the refreshed national plan for music education and the development of a new cultural education plan.

 Labour

• Accessibility and Equity: Focused on ensuring every child receives a proper creative and artistic education regardless of their background, proposing a shift from STEM to STEAM (including the arts).
• Review and Reform: Called for a comprehensive review of the Arts Council to ensure funding is effectively allocated and to address the decline in arts education.
• Rights and Protections: Advocated for new rights at work, reforms to the apprenticeship levy to suit the creative sector, and stronger support for freelancers.

Green Party

• Broad Access: Emphasized making arts accessible to all communities and demographics, with a focus on active participation over passive consumption.
• Independence: Stressed the importance of the Arts Council’s independence from government.
• Environmental Focus: Highlighted the role of the arts in addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis by promoting a hopeful vision for the future.

Liberal Democrats

• Local Engagement: Supported the idea of Enterprise zones to help private-public investment in local arts projects.
• Flexibility and Representation: Proposed replacing the apprenticeship levy with a more flexible training levy and appointing a creative freelance commissioner to address the needs of creative freelancers.
• EU Engagement: Emphasized the importance of re-engaging with Creative Europe to support the arts sector.

Plaid Cymru

• Welsh Context: Highlighted the specific challenges and strategies within Wales, such as the new Welsh curriculum which includes creativity as a core component.
• Local Focus: Advocated for a cultural strategy that explicitly supports local services and infrastructure to make the arts more accessible.
• Freelancer Support: Proposed creating a Welsh Freelancers fund and learning from the basic income scheme for artists in the Republic of Ireland.

Alliance Party

• Balance and Advocacy: Discussed the balance between the Arts Council as a fund distributor and as an advocate for the arts sector.
• Funding and Facilities: Called for increased per capita spending on the arts and more subsidized artistic workspaces.
• Inclusivity: Emphasized the importance of inclusive initiatives and accessible artistic spaces for disabled individuals and other underrepresented groups.

SDLP

• Underfunding Concerns: Highlighted the chronic underfunding of the arts in Northern Ireland and the need for better support for creative workers.
• North-South Cooperation: Discussed the potential for more north-south cooperation to enhance arts funding and support in Northern Ireland.
• Freelancer Support: Mentioned the success of artists’ basic income schemes in the Republic of Ireland and advocated for similar support in Northern Ireland.

Overall, while all parties recognize the importance of participatory arts and support increased accessibility, their approaches vary in terms of specific funding mechanisms, the role of government, and the integration of arts into broader societal and educational frameworks.