Supporting Growth in the Arts Economy; a report by Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy released today by ACE, explores the opportunities and possibilities to encourage growth within and across the sector. The report brings together findings from three papers: The arts economy; Place, infrastructure and digital and Towards an arts and creative economy development programme.

Applications are now open for creative businesses focusing on digital content to apply for funding from ACNI. The Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) have announced £4m, to be administered over four years, to encourage growth, creativity and innovation.

Back in May, Ivan Lewis MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, asked whether DCMS would be conducting any new research into the value of the arts.

On Monday, the Government released the much anticipated Giving White Paper, which aims to increase philanthropy and giving in the UK. The proposals form part of the wider Big Society agenda and hope to make charitable giving as easy as possible. Following on from the Giving Green Paper consultation in March, the paper outlines a number of changes including:

On Thursday the jointly commissioned report from BIS and DCMS, which explores the financing of the Creative Industry, was released. The report provides a thorough analysis of the financial variations within the sub sectors of the Creative Industry, the research draws on statistical, as well as, survey evidence from business and financial providers. The Government hopes to use the findings as part of the ongoing, wider development of a Creative Industries Funding Guide.

To read more about the report click here

To read the full report click here

The Edinburgh Festivals Impact Study, released this week, provides evidence of the significant contributions made by festivals to Scotland, including large cultural, economic and social benefits.

From Monday 23rd May, craft professionals are invited to take part in a telephone survey, aimed at mapping the size and impact of the craft sector.

The Secretary of State has embarked on a letter writing campaign to the CEOs of the FTSE 100 to encourage more of them to support the arts. This is all part of the Government’s drive to boost philanthropy and to make 2011 the Year of Corporate Giving. The NCA is pleased that the Mr Hunt is actively leading this initiative from the front but notes with concern some comments reported in the Financial Times which state that “it was ‘unrealistic and unreasonable’ to expect the private sector to pick up funding in areas from which government has retreated.”

Two reports have been published this week examining the role of the creative and cultural sectors in society.

On Monday, following many months of consultation, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson published the final version of ‘Cultural Metropolis’, his Cultural Strategy for London.

Following the rather gloomy news from the Treasury we can, perhaps take some small comfort from two recently announced consultations which may pave the way for new avenues of funding for the sector.

The NCA has submitted its response to Arts Council England’s Achieving great art for everyone consultation, ACE’s ten-year strategy which aims to place the arts at the centre of national life and ensure their continued growth throughout the next decade.

Now that the election campaign has begun in earnest, it is time to remind ourselves of some of the arguments for and against arts funding via the public purse. A full transcript of the NCA debate that took place at Kings Place on 1 March is now available for all those who were unable to attend or who would like to be able to flick through what was said rather than listen to the recordings.

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.

Unusually so close after Christmas, Parliament is focussed on no fewer than four pieces of legislation which are of interest to the arts sector.

The National Museum Directors Conference has this week published Museums Deliver, demonstrating the wide-ranging social and economic importance of museums in the UK.

George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor, made a speech this week at Tate Modern, promising a brighter future for the arts under a Tory government, in which more funding will be received, and the largest cultural institutions will be liberated from the shackles of Labour’s “Treasury micromanagement.” Osborne stated that the party is “deeply committed to the British arts sector” and wishes to “see it flourish and thrive in the years ahead.” He linked the arts back to the Conservative interest in social responsibility, continuing to identify the sector as an example of the “great things can happen when governments, charities, businesses and social enterprises work together.”

The Executive Summary of the Arts Index is available to everyone. The full copy of the Arts Index report is only available to members of the NCA. Click here for details on how to join.

The production of the Arts Index would not have been possible without the help and support of the following organisations, to whom we are enormously grateful:

Audiences UK, Audiences London, Americans for the Arts, Arts and Business, Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council Northern Ireland and The Department for Culture, Media & Sport.

Thanks too to Don Foster MP for sponsoring the launch at the House of Commons, and to Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, Shadow Culture Minister Dan Jarvis, John Nickson and Ivan Cutting for speaking.