Policy makers at all levels have historically invested in the arts. Eliza Easton and Salvatore Di Novo have produced a fascinating data set revealing how English arts funding has changed since 2009/10.
When thinking about why we publicly fund the arts, we can point to their multifaceted benefits. Not only do the arts contribute directly to the economy, but they can be important for health and wellbeing; not only can they make people love the place they live in but they also help to shape the global view of the UK.
Of course, not all investments in the arts do all these things - nor should we want them to. Some investments are about pushing the frontiers of forms or technologies, whilst others may be aimed at giving children their first taste of a museum, sparking lifelong curiosity. The same theatre may produce one show which traverses the world, and another created by and for a specific local community. This web of public benefits is explored in detail in the 200-odd-page AHRC Cultural Value Project report (amongst others), as well as being an ongoing subject of discussion for the Centre for Cultural Value...Keep reading on Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre.
When thinking about why we publicly fund the arts, we can point to their multifaceted benefits. Not only do the arts contribute directly to the economy, but they can be important for health and wellbeing; not only can they make people love the place they live in but they also help to shape the global view of the UK.
Of course, not all investments in the arts do all these things - nor should we want them to. Some investments are about pushing the frontiers of forms or technologies, whilst others may be aimed at giving children their first taste of a museum, sparking lifelong curiosity. The same theatre may produce one show which traverses the world, and another created by and for a specific local community. This web of public benefits is explored in detail in the 200-odd-page AHRC Cultural Value Project report (amongst others), as well as being an ongoing subject of discussion for the Centre for Cultural Value...Keep reading on Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre.