Liberal Democrat shadow Culture Secretary, Don Foster, has published new proposals for the arts and creative industries in a manifesto entitled The Power of Creativity. The document calls for creativity and culture to be celebrated, and to be seen as important in their own right, as powerful drivers of our national identity, global standing and affluence. The Liberal Democrats believe the status of the arts and creativity should be raised across society and government. The policy proposals set out Foster’s vision of how to support the arts and culture and celebrate creativity in this country.

The introduction praises the arts, suggesting that “the creative industries are seen by many to provide our best route out of recession” and that “in five years time it is likely that the creative industries in the UK will be as important to our economy as the financial services industries have been over the past fifteen years.” It calls for “nurture, support and respect from government”, and asks that the status of the arts be raised.

The paper includes proposals to:

• Place greater emphasis on supporting excellence and recognising achievement in the arts, so that they are no longer seen as an after-thought or added extra
• Introduce a cabinet committee on creativity responsible for securing cross-departmental support and increased levels of joint working, so that creative industries contribute to wider policy objectives
• Make the most of the UK’s cultural wealth both in economic and diplomatic terms
• Review the Points-Based visa System to ensure that it doesn’t discriminate against legitimate visiting artists and performers vital to ongoing cultural exchange
• Ensure that Arts Council England (ACE) finances risk and innovation as well as established organisations
• Work with ACE to improve the distribution of funding and the reach of the arts in the regions and cities outside London
• Encourage local authorities to maintain their commitment to the arts and culture and to use cultural projects to achieve wider policy goals
• Give more political recognition to individuals and companies who give generously to the arts on a national scale
• Establish an appropriate legal framework for prosecuting the most serious offenders of illegal file-sharers
• Embed culture and creativity as a key part of every child’s education, both freeing up more time in the curriculum for pupils to take part in creative subjects and bringing creative teaching practices into subjects across the educational spectrum
• Introduce a new “Paid Internship” enabling hundreds of thousands of young people to work for up to three months with any employer, without cost to the business

Foster explained that “this set of policies demonstrates our commitment to the arts and creative industries and our belief in their central importance in our society”, adding that “the future we want is a country fulfilling its creative potential.”

The NCA warmly welcomes the manifesto, and are happy to see that a number of ideas from our Arts Manifesto have been incorporated by the Liberal Democrats. We will continue to lobby political parties to ensure that the arts are adequately supported by the future government. 

The Power of Creativity can be read in full here.

The Arts Manifesto can be read here.