(Above) Cultural leaders in the great court of the British Museum launch Cultural Capital: A Manifesto for the Future. © Culture24
As our politicians chew over the Chancellor's budget and draw the battle lines for a General Election in May, cultural leaders gathered today at the British Museum for a necessary reminder of the value of UK culture and to launch their own manifesto.
Arts leaders, actors and dancers joined Museum directors and artists for the launch of Cultural Capital: A Manifesto for the Future, which argues the case for continued investment in the cultural economy and suggests that culture should be at the heart of any plans to plot Britain's recovery from recession.
To hammer home the message the group, including Turner Prize winning artist Grayson Perry, Tate Director Nicolas Serota and National Portrait Gallery Director Sandy Nairn, paraded placards designed by artists Tracey Emin, Anish Kapoor and Damien Hirst bearing the slogan "You can BANK on Culture".
One of the placards designed by Damien Hirst. © Culture24
Packed with facts and figures from the last 15 years, the Manifesto paints a picture of UK culture as an agent of strong social and economic wellbeing and reveals a growing public appetite for it, fed by investment in the arts, heritage, museums, libraries and archives.
It argues that the UK has the largest cultural economy in the world relative to GDP, and reveals that two-thirds of the UK population enjoys the arts and visit museums, galleries and historic sites. It also points out that eight of the top 10 UK visitor attractions are national museums.
Making the case for culture "as catalyst for change", the Manifesto says that a reduction in investment in culture does not make economic sense, especially as the 2012 Olympics are approaching, bringing increased profile and participation opportunities based on work, learning, training and social engagement.
© Culture24
Southbank's Artistic Director Jude Kelly also pointed to the increased participation of a younger generation at the launch. "There's a generation of young people who are beginning to feel that culture is for them," she said.
The Manifesto hones in on hard facts and figures to outline how national arts and heritage agencies have already contributed £2.2 billion from their National Lottery income to the London 2012 Olympics.
It also reveals how national arts organisations have made extensive contributions to public sector savings through a £20 million cut in the Department for Media, Culture and Sport's grant-in-aid allocation from the 2009 budget.
Tate Director Serota described the report as "a balance sheet" of achievements by the past four governments, urging any incoming government to resist making cuts.
Read it in full here.
