Arts Sector
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Bull(1 day, 16 hours ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
My noble friend makes an important point. Participation in publicly funded arts programmes is associated with improved mental health and well-being, as well as the impact on social capital and social cohesion to which my noble friend pointed. Research already commissioned by DCMS reveals that cultural engagement contributes approximately £8 billion annually in health and well-being benefits. Engagement with the arts shows improved quality of life, reduced use of health and social care services, and increased productivity. It has a huge public benefit—one that we seek to protect.
Baroness Bull (CB)
My Lords, the Minister has rightly highlighted the multiple benefits of investment in arts and culture, but is she aware of the role that arts and cultural organisations play in the wider economy, both as a generator of product innovations that are then adopted for mainstream use, and, indeed, through the demands that artists make on tech firms to create new products that will deliver their artistic vision? The recent sector plan, as we have heard, understandably exploits the commercial elements of the creative industries. Can the Minister say what work is under way to better understand and leverage the value of the arts and cultural sector in driving innovation and, therefore, financial value across the wider UK economy?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Research shows that, where young people explore creative subjects, their overall attainment improves. The same is the case throughout people’s lives—creativity is so important. For us in DCMS, it was hugely exciting to have the creative industries recognised as part of the industrial strategy. As part of the creative ecosystem, the sector will benefit from the cross-cutting measures in the sector plan and industrial strategy, including greater access to finance. Over the spending review period, DCMS is committing significant funding to safeguard and modernise much-loved arts and cultural institutions across England as part of this creative ecosystem.
Live Music Industry: Support
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Bull(1 week, 1 day ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I think that many local authorities recognise the significance of grass-roots music venues, not least as a way of attracting people to live in their areas. The Government are also of the view of my noble friend that supporting grass-roots music is vital. To that end, we are providing £2.5 million for Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music fund for the coming year.
Baroness Bull (CB)
My Lords, one way in which the next generation of talent develops its skills and craft is through international touring, which has been so important in building fan bases and growing skills. The mention of artists touring in the post-Brexit UK-EU summit was very welcome, but it is not clear what next steps are being taken to resolve the absence of touring arrangements in the post-Brexit agreements.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The noble Baroness is correct that it is a positive sign that it was mentioned in the announcement following the UK-EU summit on 19 May. Both the UK and the European Commission are committed to supporting travel and cultural exchange, including the activities of touring artists. We are continuing to engage constructively with the European Commission to address the challenges that touring artists and their support staff face, while respecting regulatory frameworks on both sides. My colleague, Sir Chris Bryant, has held a number of bilateral meetings with other countries and the Commission to try to move this forward.
Museums and Galleries: Admission Charges for Non-UK Residents
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Bull
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
There are an awful lot of hypotheticals in this debate. I go back to my initial point that this Government do not currently have any plans to charge for entry to museums and galleries that are currently classed as the 50 national museums covered by the Labour Government scheme from 2001.
Baroness Bull (CB)
The UK’s cultural and heritage assets are indeed a massive driver of inbound tourism. As the noble Lord, Lord Addington, pointed out, there is spillover spend not just in the museums but in the accommodation and hospitality that these tourists need. However, we know, and a DCMS Select Committee report from the other place in 2022 revealed, that a lot of that tourism is focused on London, whereas the entire UK has an enormous amount of cultural heritage that could be shared. What are the Government doing to work with VisitBritain and others to raise awareness of and promote venues and opportunities around the UK?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Funding for national museums supports museums and sites across London. The noble Baroness is correct that a large number of these museums are in London, but we do have national museum sites in Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, York and St Ives. The Government have announced a new £20 million museum renewal fund, in addition to the more than £44 million a year that Arts Council England currently invests in museums. As the noble Baroness is aware, there is an ongoing review of Arts Council England, led by my noble friend Lady Hodge.