Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed the Labour Government’s commitment to the arts by unveiling a comprehensive strategy to bolster the UK’s creative industries. This initiative comes after the Labour Party’s sweeping election victory, which promises a significant shift in the nation’s cultural policy.
Britain’s creative industries contribute £125 billion annually to the UK economy and employ 2.4 million people. Despite their significant economic and cultural contributions, these industries have faced challenges under successive Conservative governments. Labour aims to reverse this trend, fostering an environment where creative industries can thrive.
Labour pledges powerful support for arts and cultural organisations to foster growth within the broader creative industries. This includes ensuring pathways from grassroots art to creative careers and broadening audience access. Labour plans to work closely with key stakeholders, including the Creative Industries Council and Arts Councils, to develop a private finance model that attracts diverse funding sources, ensuring a sustainable future for arts organisations.
Labour will support the museums and galleries sector by bringing exceptional art and artefacts into communities. This initiative aligns with Labour’s goal of making arts and culture accessible to all, not just the privileged few.
The party promises constructive collaboration with public service broadcasters like the BBC, ensuring they can continue investing in distinctive creative outputs that are locally cherished and globally exported. This support is crucial for maintaining the BBC’s role in informing, educating, and entertaining the nation.
A review of Arts Council England is also on the agenda, aimed at positioning it effectively for the next decade. This review will consider how best to support the arts sector in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
Labour is set to commission an expert-led review of the curriculum and assessment, advocating for a rich, inclusive, and innovative Arts educational framework. This includes ensuring that a creative or vocational subject is part of the Progress 8 measure in schools. Additionally, Labour plans to introduce the National Music Education Network to support parents, carers, and teachers.
The Labour Party’s commitment to the arts has garnered substantial support from leading artists. Notably, sculptor Antony Gormley has donated art worth half a million pounds to the Labour Party. This follows similar contributions from artists like Grayson Perry and Maggi Hambling. These donations reflect a broader endorsement of Labour’s cultural policies.
Labour’s vision is clear: to ensure that the arts and culture are integral to Britain’s identity and growth. This involves creating conditions that enable creativity rather than dictating its direction. The party emphasises the importance of understanding the arts as a system of intrinsically linked excellence and access.
Sharon Heal, director of the Museums Association, expressed optimism about working with the new government. She highlighted the importance of museum investment and looked forward to collaborating with the new culture secretary.
With a renewed focus on arts and culture, Labour’s policies aim to revitalise Britain’s creative industries and ensure they continue to be a source of national pride and economic strength.
Read Labour’s Plan for the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Here