Cultural Sector: Freedom of Speech

Lord Mendoza Excerpts

Wednesday 8th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am not going to be drawn on specific cases, but the whole point of this Government’s approach is to focus on delivery for the people of this country, not to stoke individual cases or culture wars. This is what we are going to do, and what we expect other organisations to do as well.

[Lord Mendoza (Con)]

My Lords, the cultural sector often operates with very fragile operating models. One source of revenue is corporate partnerships and we have seen those, such as the brilliant long-term partnership that BP has had, year after year, with the British Museum, come under attack in recent months. Does the Minister agree that we should encourage cultural organisations to be more robust to allow the voices of corporates and, of course, the staff of those corporates to enjoy the culture so that the rest of the cultural sector can flourish?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

It is important to recognize that arts organisations operate independently of government, and which philanthropic donations they should accept are therefore commercial decisions for them. But I am clear that philanthropy has historically allowed audiences, including me, to enjoy fabulous cultural experiences that they would not otherwise have enjoyed and which open up the arts and culture. Some of the big exhibitions rely on philanthropy; I am thinking particularly of the Van Gogh exhibition, which I know from speaking to Members that many people in this House have attended. The Charity Commission has published guidance in the past year to help charities when deciding whether to accept, refuse or return a donation. I hope that will provide some clarity and, where organisations are charities, they should have regard to it.