A remarkable document has been published: the culture department business plan – for Northern Ireland. Don’t stop reading.
It’s remarkable because it says: “The top priority, and most important objective, of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure… and all its arms-length bodies – is: ‘To promote equality, and tackle poverty and social exclusion.’”
The department’s mission statement also commits it to developing “a confident, creative, informed and healthy society”.
That’s so Museums Change Lives, I couldn’t have put it better myself!
Meanwhile, in Wales, the government has commissioned a report to set out how cultural organisations can help address poverty. John Griffiths, minister for culture and sport, explained that a key focus will be how to help more people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales access and take part in the arts, culture and the historic environment.
And in Scotland over the summer, Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture and external affairs, set out her government’s vision for culture: “We value culture and heritage… because they are our heart, our soul, our essence.”
In a long speech, full of rhetorical, nationalistic flourishes, Hyslop talked up the life-enriching qualities of culture and asserted that “we know that immersion in cultural activity can help bolster the resilience and wellbeing of communities and individuals”.
Hyslop’s comments were in contrast to those of Maria Miller, secretary of state for culture, media and sport in the UK (ie English) government.
In Hyslop’s words, Miller “asked the culture sector to help her make the arguments about the economic impact of culture in the context of economic growth. I don’t agree. That is not the future I choose.”
Compared with other countries of the UK, the utterances of culture ministers in England can feel thin and unambitious.
They seem to talk primarily about money, even though part of the purpose of the department of culture is, admirably, “to protect our deeply held beliefs in freedom and equality”.
It’s remarkable because it says: “The top priority, and most important objective, of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure… and all its arms-length bodies – is: ‘To promote equality, and tackle poverty and social exclusion.’”
The department’s mission statement also commits it to developing “a confident, creative, informed and healthy society”.
That’s so Museums Change Lives, I couldn’t have put it better myself!
Meanwhile, in Wales, the government has commissioned a report to set out how cultural organisations can help address poverty. John Griffiths, minister for culture and sport, explained that a key focus will be how to help more people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales access and take part in the arts, culture and the historic environment.
And in Scotland over the summer, Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture and external affairs, set out her government’s vision for culture: “We value culture and heritage… because they are our heart, our soul, our essence.”
In a long speech, full of rhetorical, nationalistic flourishes, Hyslop talked up the life-enriching qualities of culture and asserted that “we know that immersion in cultural activity can help bolster the resilience and wellbeing of communities and individuals”.
Hyslop’s comments were in contrast to those of Maria Miller, secretary of state for culture, media and sport in the UK (ie English) government.
In Hyslop’s words, Miller “asked the culture sector to help her make the arguments about the economic impact of culture in the context of economic growth. I don’t agree. That is not the future I choose.”
Compared with other countries of the UK, the utterances of culture ministers in England can feel thin and unambitious.
They seem to talk primarily about money, even though part of the purpose of the department of culture is, admirably, “to protect our deeply held beliefs in freedom and equality”.
