That was how Lord Stevenson, the former chairman of the trustees of the Tate, described the launch of Values and Vision last month.
Leading arts figures gathered at Tate Modern in London to make a joint plea to government to recognise what investment in the arts has achieved in the past ten years and to maintain at least the current level of funding.
Tony Hall, the executive director of the Royal Opera House; Jude Kelly, the chairwoman of the Olympic Arts, Culture and Education Committee; and Virginia Tandy, the vice-president of the Museums Association presented the case. 'Our joint presentation is about saying that government's investment in us has paid off,' said Hall.
Nicholas Hytner, the artistic director of the National Theatre, added that in the past, the arts had been sheepish about talking about what culture can do and finding the right words to express the value of culture. 'The quality of life has moved right to the top of the political agenda - we shouldn't be ashamed of trying to find the right words.'
Tandy said that the arts were a success story and that cultural institutions had performed beyond expectations. 'Renaissance in the Regions has enabled museums to work together. In two years, we have increased visits by schoolchildren by 25 per cent and have 750,000 new users from non-traditional communities.'
A joint document - Values and Vision: the Contribution of Culture - which outlines what the arts sector has achieved in the past ten years was launched on the day. It says that: 'In the future, Britain's economic prosperity and well-being will not depend on industrial prowess, natural resources or cheap labour, but on developing, attracting, retaining and mobilising creativity.'
As well as outlining past achievements, the document describes an ambitious vision for 2015 where more than 85 per cent of the adult population will take part in a cultural activity each year and barriers to access will be reduced so that participation in cultural activity will be the norm.
But when asked how much this would cost, the various directors and arts leaders shied away from putting a figure on it. 'We are not whingeing or asking for more money. Yes there is a spending round coming up, but our message to government is: "Look what can be done when you start treating us properly,"' said Hytner.
The Comprehensive Spending Review, which will inform the government's spending plans from 2008 onwards, looks set to be completed by the middle of next year. Individual arts organisation are expected to put their separate bids in to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the autumn. After that, the DCMS will make a bid to the Treasury and will find out its allocation in late spring/early summer 2007.
Sharon Heal
Leading arts figures gathered at Tate Modern in London to make a joint plea to government to recognise what investment in the arts has achieved in the past ten years and to maintain at least the current level of funding.
Tony Hall, the executive director of the Royal Opera House; Jude Kelly, the chairwoman of the Olympic Arts, Culture and Education Committee; and Virginia Tandy, the vice-president of the Museums Association presented the case. 'Our joint presentation is about saying that government's investment in us has paid off,' said Hall.
Nicholas Hytner, the artistic director of the National Theatre, added that in the past, the arts had been sheepish about talking about what culture can do and finding the right words to express the value of culture. 'The quality of life has moved right to the top of the political agenda - we shouldn't be ashamed of trying to find the right words.'
Tandy said that the arts were a success story and that cultural institutions had performed beyond expectations. 'Renaissance in the Regions has enabled museums to work together. In two years, we have increased visits by schoolchildren by 25 per cent and have 750,000 new users from non-traditional communities.'
A joint document - Values and Vision: the Contribution of Culture - which outlines what the arts sector has achieved in the past ten years was launched on the day. It says that: 'In the future, Britain's economic prosperity and well-being will not depend on industrial prowess, natural resources or cheap labour, but on developing, attracting, retaining and mobilising creativity.'
As well as outlining past achievements, the document describes an ambitious vision for 2015 where more than 85 per cent of the adult population will take part in a cultural activity each year and barriers to access will be reduced so that participation in cultural activity will be the norm.
But when asked how much this would cost, the various directors and arts leaders shied away from putting a figure on it. 'We are not whingeing or asking for more money. Yes there is a spending round coming up, but our message to government is: "Look what can be done when you start treating us properly,"' said Hytner.
The Comprehensive Spending Review, which will inform the government's spending plans from 2008 onwards, looks set to be completed by the middle of next year. Individual arts organisation are expected to put their separate bids in to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the autumn. After that, the DCMS will make a bid to the Treasury and will find out its allocation in late spring/early summer 2007.
Sharon Heal
