Tuesday 06 Nov 2007 @ 16:26
Arts Council England
Arts Council England
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Innovation and accountability - the arts debate findings unveiled
The public and the arts community believe Arts Council England should give more priority to innovation in the arts.
So says ‘Public value and the arts in England’ - a report detailing findings of the arts debate, the Arts Council’s first-ever public value inquiry, which is published today.
Over the last year, hundreds of people from all over England have contributed to the debate in interviews, group discussions and events. While some contributors were already active participants in the arts, many others rarely or never attended an arts event.
The report finds that many people really are passionate about art - feeling that it helps them to express themselves and better understand the world, challenging their assumptions and broadening their horizons. The arts are also seen as a source of beauty and enjoyment and as an important emotional outlet.
It also shows widespread support for public funding of the arts. At the same time, there are people from all walks of life who feel to some extent excluded from what the arts have to offer. There is a strong call for public funding to ensure that the arts touch the lives of the maximum number of people.
They also want the Arts Council to involve the public more in its decision making thereby be more accountable to the public that funds it.
Speaking of the findings, Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said:
“The arts debate has enabled the public and the arts community to have an important conversation about what art really means to us as individuals and as a society.
“For me there are two important findings. There is widespread support for public funding of the arts, and the public is calling for the Arts Council to be a standard-bearer for innovation.
“This is not the end of the conversation. The findings will help shape our strategy for the future.”
Over the coming months, the Arts Council will develop a detailed response and action plan.
Read about the arts debate and download the full report at: www.artsdebate.co.uk
For more information contact:
Julie Yau, Assistant Press Officer, Arts Council England
020 7973 6557 / julie.yau@artscouncil.org.uk
Louise Wylie, Director of Media Relations, Arts Council England
020 7973 5528 / louise.wylie@artscouncil.org.uk
Notes for editors:
1. About the arts debate:
- The arts debate ran from October 2006 to September 2007
- The arts debate involved research, online consultation and events, including open space events and consultations run by the arts community.
- The arts debate research involved nearly fifty members of Arts Council staff, over two hundred representative members of the public, over eighty artists and arts managers and around thirty stakeholder organisations such as local authorities, charities and health and education institutions. There were also over 1,200 contributions to the open consultation and around 150 arts professionals at a final open space event.
- Anyone could participate in the debate from iconic arts organisations to individual artists and members of public.
2. Arts Council England works to get great art to more people in more places. We develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm’s length from government. Between 2006 and 2008, we will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts. This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England. We believe that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country.
For 2006 to 2008, Arts Council England has six priorities:
· Taking part in the arts
· Children and young people
· The creative economy
· Vibrant communities
· Internationalism
· Celebrating diversity
So says ‘Public value and the arts in England’ - a report detailing findings of the arts debate, the Arts Council’s first-ever public value inquiry, which is published today.
Over the last year, hundreds of people from all over England have contributed to the debate in interviews, group discussions and events. While some contributors were already active participants in the arts, many others rarely or never attended an arts event.
The report finds that many people really are passionate about art - feeling that it helps them to express themselves and better understand the world, challenging their assumptions and broadening their horizons. The arts are also seen as a source of beauty and enjoyment and as an important emotional outlet.
It also shows widespread support for public funding of the arts. At the same time, there are people from all walks of life who feel to some extent excluded from what the arts have to offer. There is a strong call for public funding to ensure that the arts touch the lives of the maximum number of people.
They also want the Arts Council to involve the public more in its decision making thereby be more accountable to the public that funds it.
Speaking of the findings, Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said:
“The arts debate has enabled the public and the arts community to have an important conversation about what art really means to us as individuals and as a society.
“For me there are two important findings. There is widespread support for public funding of the arts, and the public is calling for the Arts Council to be a standard-bearer for innovation.
“This is not the end of the conversation. The findings will help shape our strategy for the future.”
Over the coming months, the Arts Council will develop a detailed response and action plan.
Read about the arts debate and download the full report at: www.artsdebate.co.uk
For more information contact:
Julie Yau, Assistant Press Officer, Arts Council England
020 7973 6557 / julie.yau@artscouncil.org.uk
Louise Wylie, Director of Media Relations, Arts Council England
020 7973 5528 / louise.wylie@artscouncil.org.uk
Notes for editors:
1. About the arts debate:
- The arts debate ran from October 2006 to September 2007
- The arts debate involved research, online consultation and events, including open space events and consultations run by the arts community.
- The arts debate research involved nearly fifty members of Arts Council staff, over two hundred representative members of the public, over eighty artists and arts managers and around thirty stakeholder organisations such as local authorities, charities and health and education institutions. There were also over 1,200 contributions to the open consultation and around 150 arts professionals at a final open space event.
- Anyone could participate in the debate from iconic arts organisations to individual artists and members of public.
2. Arts Council England works to get great art to more people in more places. We develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm’s length from government. Between 2006 and 2008, we will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts. This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England. We believe that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country.
For 2006 to 2008, Arts Council England has six priorities:
· Taking part in the arts
· Children and young people
· The creative economy
· Vibrant communities
· Internationalism
· Celebrating diversity
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