The role of the arts in promoting social inclusion

In 1999, the Government announced its intention to design policy to address problems in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, including unemployment, crime, poor housing, racial tension and family breakdown.

On 25 May 1999 the NCA took a delegation of artists to meet the Arts Minister, Alan Howarth, to discuss the role of the arts in promoting social inclusion. The arts can be, and are, effective in this area and have been shown to be beneficial to communities and individuals through improving social cohesion, racial relations, community identity and leadership, and increasing personal confidence and employability. Importantly, arts projects introduce participants to new ideas, new people and different cultural perspectives. However, the work of the arts in these areas is hampered by misconceptions about the arts and their relevance to social regeneration, and by difficulties in meeting imposed funding criteria and securing long-term funding.

NCA delegation report: Social Inclusion, 1999

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