Keir Starmer pledges to turn arts from a “luxury” to a “necessity” due to declining arts funding across the UK.
Between 2009 and 2021, arts funding has fallen by 50% in England per person, 33% in Scotland and 36% in Wales, according to the Musicians’ Union.
UK grassroots music venues are in crisis. That’s according to figures from the Music Venue Trust, which found that the UK lost 13% of its grassroots music venues in 2023, with the number falling from 960 to 835.
Arts funding has seen a dramatic decline since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.
During the Coalition government with the Liberal Democrats (2010-15), the overall budget for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport was reduced from £1.4bn per year to £1.1bn.
The arts have lost over £178m in real funding between 2010 and 2023.
Arts Council England’s budget was trimmed by around 30% over the same period.
Keir Starmer made a speech at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Credit: Labour Party.
Keir Starmer laid out his vision for the cultural sector under a Labour government at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on 14 March.
He’s pledged to change arts access and education across the country and ensure that “creative skills won’t be treated as a luxury, but as a necessity.”
He was a flute player as a child and highlighted the importance of music education for all children.
He announced the creation of a new National Music Education Network.
He said the arts funding would change, “because we know they’re essential to our economic growth and our national identity.”
He also outlined that the Labour Party would ban ticket touting.
In response to Keir Starmer’s speech, the Musicians Union (MU) said: “While proposals for a National Music Education Network are positive, we hope that systemic issues like chronic underfunding and inadequate terms of employment will be addressed.”
They also argue that a BBC funding settlement is critical.
“It’s the single biggest employer of MU members in the UK. With the current settlement ending in 2027, we want to see a settlement that will support the BBC Performing Groups.”
What’s the Liberal Democrats’ view?
The Liberal Democrats strongly advocated against Brexit and its impact on the arts. Credit: Liberal Democrats
Another barrier facing musicians is challenges of touring following Britain’s Exit from the European Union.
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to “negotiate free and simple short-term travel arrangements for UK artists to perform in the EU, and European artists to perform in the UK.”
What has the Government done?
Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt. Credit: AP
Arts leaders welcomed measures announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Spring Budget to permanently increase rates of cultural tax relief for theatres, orchestras, museums, and galleries.
Rates of tax relief will be permanently set at 45%/40% for theatres, museums and orchestras from 2025.
Jeremy Hunt said he wanted to “recognise the contribution of our creative industries.”
There will also be a review into arts spending after the next general election.
What’s happened in devolved administrations?
The Senedd controls arts funding in Wales. Credit: Senedd Cymru.
The Welsh Government has been criticised for a drop in arts and leisure funding of £16m.
That’s because the devolved government is moving money to frontline services.
The Labour Party has always been the largest party in the Senedd since the first National Assembly election in 1999.
They’ve always led the country, whether that be in a minority, majority or a coalition government.
But the Welsh Museum might close and Welsh National Opera funding has been cut by 12% and reduced its output considerably.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
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HeadlineArts funding in crisis: what are the political parties’ views?
Short HeadlineWhat are the parties' positions on the arts funding crisis?
StandfirstThe Labour Party has said they'll make the creative industries central to national renewal.
Keir Starmer pledges to turn arts from a “luxury” to a “necessity” due to declining arts funding across the UK.
Between 2009 and 2021, arts funding has fallen by 50% in England per person, 33% in Scotland and 36% in Wales, according to the Musicians’ Union.
UK grassroots music venues are in crisis. That’s according to figures from the Music Venue Trust, which found that the UK lost 13% of its grassroots music venues in 2023, with the number falling from 960 to 835.
Arts funding has seen a dramatic decline since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.
During the Coalition government with the Liberal Democrats (2010-15), the overall budget for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport was reduced from £1.4bn per year to £1.1bn.
The arts have lost over £178m in real funding between 2010 and 2023.
Arts Council England’s budget was trimmed by around 30% over the same period.
Keir Starmer made a speech at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Credit: Labour Party.
Keir Starmer laid out his vision for the cultural sector under a Labour government at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on 14 March.
He’s pledged to change arts access and education across the country and ensure that “creative skills won’t be treated as a luxury, but as a necessity.”
He was a flute player as a child and highlighted the importance of music education for all children.
He announced the creation of a new National Music Education Network.
He said the arts funding would change, “because we know they’re essential to our economic growth and our national identity.”
He also outlined that the Labour Party would ban ticket touting.
In response to Keir Starmer’s speech, the Musicians Union (MU) said: “While proposals for a National Music Education Network are positive, we hope that systemic issues like chronic underfunding and inadequate terms of employment will be addressed.”
They also argue that a BBC funding settlement is critical.
“It’s the single biggest employer of MU members in the UK. With the current settlement ending in 2027, we want to see a settlement that will support the BBC Performing Groups.”
What’s the Liberal Democrats’ view?
The Liberal Democrats strongly advocated against Brexit and its impact on the arts. Credit: Liberal Democrats
Another barrier facing musicians is challenges of touring following Britain’s Exit from the European Union.
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to “negotiate free and simple short-term travel arrangements for UK artists to perform in the EU, and European artists to perform in the UK.”
What has the Government done?
Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt. Credit: AP
Arts leaders welcomed measures announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Spring Budget to permanently increase rates of cultural tax relief for theatres, orchestras, museums, and galleries.
Rates of tax relief will be permanently set at 45%/40% for theatres, museums and orchestras from 2025.
Jeremy Hunt said he wanted to “recognise the contribution of our creative industries.”
There will also be a review into arts spending after the next general election.
What’s happened in devolved administrations?
The Senedd controls arts funding in Wales. Credit: Senedd Cymru.
The Welsh Government has been criticised for a drop in arts and leisure funding of £16m.
That’s because the devolved government is moving money to frontline services.
The Labour Party has always been the largest party in the Senedd since the first National Assembly election in 1999.
They’ve always led the country, whether that be in a minority, majority or a coalition government.
But the Welsh Museum might close and Welsh National Opera funding has been cut by 12% and reduced its output considerably.
The former Labour leader said he will stand in his constituency of Islington North, vowing to be “an independent voice for equality, democracy and peace”.
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