Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn Pledges Renewed Investment In The Arts

New Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says he will invest in the arts. Mr Corbyn has stated that he intends to make Britain “happier” by investing in arts and culture. Funding for the arts is “central” to creating a better society, the Labour leader has announced. Mr Corbyn has unveiled his the plan to secure the future of the arts and culture industry alongside Frank Cottrell Boyce, the writer who produced the storyline for Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the London Olympics.

Mr Corbyn has stated in an article setting out his vision: “The arts and creative industries are the backbone of much of our cultural heritage, and I fear that under this government over the next five years this cultural heritage is under threat. Under the guise of a politically motivated austerity programme, this government has savaged arts funding with projects increasingly required to justify their artistic and social contributions in the narrow, ruthlessly instrumentalist approach of the Thatcher governments.”

Mr Corbyn has pledged to:
• Invest in the arts to “rebuild the foundations of artistic enterprise”
• Encourage every child to learn a musical instrument or act on stage
• Widen access to the arts
• Direct a greater proportion of funding to local projects
• Create more outreach programmes for young people from flagship national projects
• Protect the BBC from further cuts

The new Labour leader has claimed that the arts have witnessed £82 million of cuts over the past five years, resulting in many arts organisations and venues closing down. Mr Corbyn added: “As a country that has made such remarkable contributions to music, dance and theatre, the current suffocation of our arts should concern us all.”

Mr Corbyn previously stated during his campaign for leadership that: “Our Labour leadership campaign is for a country in which people are happier, more fulfilled and secure in their work as well as home. If we are to achieve our goal in government of supporting people in leading more enjoyable and fulfilling lives, funding for the arts must be central to that offer.”

Image: Courtesy of BBC.

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