Alan Davey, the chief executive of Arts Council England, warned today that investment in culture “shouldn’t be thrown away in a fit of absent mindedness”.
Speaking at the launch of Cultural Capital, a manifesto for the arts, Davey said sustained investment in the arts had paid off for the economy and the country as a whole.
His call for continued funding was echoed by Neil MacGregor, the director of the British Museum, who said: “Not only does culture work, it makes work”, referring to the fact that nearly two million people are employed in the creative and cultural industries.
The manifesto is signed by 17 cultural organisations including the National Museum Directors’ Conference, the Association of Independent Museums and the Museums Association.
Answering criticisms that the manifesto doesn’t have any clear demands beyond sustained investment, Nick Serota, the director of Tate, said that the point of the document was to make sure that politicians of all parties understood the value of culture.
Key facts from the manifesto:
Two thirds of the adult population enjoy the arts, visit historic sites, and go to museums and galleries.
Total cultural spending represents only one per cent of the NHS budget.
The economic benefits of the UK’s major museums and galleries alone are estimated to be £1.5bn per annum.
In 2008/9 the UK national museums received over 40 million visitors. Eight of the UK’s top ten visitor attractions are museums.
Since free admission, the number of visits to national museums by children under 16 has increased by 80 per cent.
In 2008/9 Renaissance-funded regional museums received 15.8 million visitors.
In 2009 English Heritage saw their visitor numbers rise by 16 per cent and the National Trust by 18 per cent.
Speaking at the launch of Cultural Capital, a manifesto for the arts, Davey said sustained investment in the arts had paid off for the economy and the country as a whole.
His call for continued funding was echoed by Neil MacGregor, the director of the British Museum, who said: “Not only does culture work, it makes work”, referring to the fact that nearly two million people are employed in the creative and cultural industries.
The manifesto is signed by 17 cultural organisations including the National Museum Directors’ Conference, the Association of Independent Museums and the Museums Association.
Answering criticisms that the manifesto doesn’t have any clear demands beyond sustained investment, Nick Serota, the director of Tate, said that the point of the document was to make sure that politicians of all parties understood the value of culture.
Key facts from the manifesto:
Two thirds of the adult population enjoy the arts, visit historic sites, and go to museums and galleries.
Total cultural spending represents only one per cent of the NHS budget.
The economic benefits of the UK’s major museums and galleries alone are estimated to be £1.5bn per annum.
In 2008/9 the UK national museums received over 40 million visitors. Eight of the UK’s top ten visitor attractions are museums.
Since free admission, the number of visits to national museums by children under 16 has increased by 80 per cent.
In 2008/9 Renaissance-funded regional museums received 15.8 million visitors.
In 2009 English Heritage saw their visitor numbers rise by 16 per cent and the National Trust by 18 per cent.