General election: Arts leaders seek funding pledges

Ringfenced funding for arts and 'radical' action to support the growth of cultural and creative industries are among a range of policies being pushed to be taken up by political parties in the run up to the general election.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (22 May) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said a general election will take place on 4 July.

Parliament will be formally shut down on Thursday next week ahead of an official five-week election campaign during which political parties and individual candidates will make their pitches to the electorate.

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Following the announcement performers' union Equity said it will aim to get all election candidates to confirm "on record" whether they pledge to protect the arts, or not.

It is seeking all candidates to oppose cuts to existing funding and pledge to ring fence arts and entertainment funding. It also wants a requirement for union contracts, and terms and conditions, for all public funding of the arts.

Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming said, “This election is long overdue. Equity will be undertaking unprecedented non-partisan campaigns through the coming weeks to demand the long overdue end to austerity, freedom for trades unions, and rights for workers from every candidate.

"We demand a government committed to good work for all artists, good art for all workers, and Equity for all people.”

Access for children

In a post on X, the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre said it is seeking a commitment for funding so that every child can attend the theatre at least once before they leave school.

It also wants "a strategic approach" to investment in cultural infrastructure to be taken.

Meanwhile Creative UK, which last month published a manifesto calling for 'radical new action' to unlock the growth potential of the Cultural and Creative Industries has said it wants "clear plans" from parties contesting the election as to how they might capitalise on the ability of the sector to stimulate national economic and social prosperity.

"The Cultural and Creative Industries drive growth for the economy, while creating jobs and meaningful work at an extraordinary pace," Creative UK's Chief Executive, Caroline Norbury, said.

"Creativity supports health and wellbeing in our society. And the workforce of tomorrow will grow from the creative skills we nurture today – across sectors as diverse as film, TV, advertising, fashion, craft, video games, museums, heritage, visual arts, advertising, createch, live performance and many others.

"For these reasons and more, it's vital that our next UK Government puts the creative economy at the centre of its policy making."