Warning to Treasury over peril of cutting arts funding

Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent
16.06.09

Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey is to tell the Treasury that cutting arts funding is "more trouble than it's worth".

Speaking as the National Campaign for the Arts launched its new manifesto at Tate Britain, he admitted there was going to be a "difficult" public spending environment.

But, he said, it was in no government's interest to cross the arts world. The budget for culture was a very small proportion of overall spending plans while any cuts had "major ramifications".

He said: "I will fight the corner for sustainable long-term funding for the arts."

His pledge came after Barbara Follett, the minister for culture, told the conference of the need to argue with the Treasury "in the language they understand and they understand gross value added".

"Gross value added" measures the contribution to the economy of each individual sector. The creative industries in Britain are expected to grow by four per cent over four years, double the rate for the rest of the economy.

The NCA hopes all political parties will adopt key proposals from its manifesto.

These include greater collaboration between the arts and education and a requirement on local authorities to include culture in strategic plans.

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