Press release - 28 June 2000

A welcome for the New Statesman Lecture

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) today welcomed the speech given by Gerry Robinson, Chairman of the Arts Council of England, with its call for increased government funding across the whole arts community.

Victoria Todd, Director of the NCA, commented: "I am delighted that the ACE has recognised the need for an increase in government funding of the arts. Evidence suggests that even modest investment would bring about significant improvements, and I sincerely hope that the government will grant these much needed resources".

In his speech, Gerry Robinson drew from recent research, which indicates a change in trends of those who support the arts. The research conducted by MORI, shows that the arts can no longer be characterised as a middle or upper-class pursuit. 78% of people believe the arts play a valuable role in the life of the country and 95% believe children should have more opportunity to experience the arts at school.

The NCA welcomes Robinson's call for increased investment in the educational sphere, and in particular his desire that "every child should have the opportunity to play a musical instrument, read poetry, take part in plays or participate in other arts at school". The NCA is also encouraged by Robinsons" proposals for creative teachers to be given a new status, and the increased emphasis to be placed on specialist art colleges and vocational training schools as arts resource "hubs".

Robinsons's concludes on core funding, that the arts are fundamentally under-resourced. In his speech, he argued that when funding is constrained, "it is always the art that gets cut first". His suggestions that huge amounts of activity can be generated with modest increases in funding eg. a 10% increase in support delivering double that in arts activity, and conclusions on the future of theatre in Britain, are also supported by the NCA.

Todd concluded that: "the ACE's call for the increased government support is very positive, and provides a framework for a healthy future for the arts community".

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