Extract from Lords debate on the Spending Review 2020 - Dec 3
Friday, 4 December 2020 07:52
The Earl of Clancarty (CB): My Lords, it is disappointing that the
arts are not more acknowledged in the spending review, including
their longer-term economic worth. The arts are part of an
ecosystem, which includes the currently equally beleaguered
hospitality sector, as the Incorporated Society of Musicians
pointed out in its response. Can the Minister give more detail on
the reference to local arts and culture in the levelling-up fund?
Pre Covid, the crisis in arts and cultural funding has...Request free trial
(CB): My Lords, it is disappointing that the arts
are not more acknowledged in the spending review, including their
longer-term economic worth. The arts are part of an ecosystem,
which includes the currently equally beleaguered hospitality
sector, as the Incorporated Society of Musicians
pointed out in its response. Can the Minister give more detail on
the reference to local arts and culture in the levelling-up fund?
Pre Covid, the crisis in arts and cultural funding has primarily
been about the cuts to local council grants. According to a recent
Fabian Society report, £860 million of arts funding has been lost
in the past 10 years in this way—a reduction of 38% since 2009. The
£20 million fund for England curiously brackets the arts alongside
transport and other projects. Every area should be able to nurture
its arts and enable access to them, not be pitted against each
other in a bidding war. The cuts to local council funding urgently
need to be reversed...
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