Support for culture from the Conservatives
SIAN FLYNN, the Conservative prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Cornwall quizzed Shadow Minister Ed Vaizey about the Tories’ approach to arts funding when she met him at the Party Conference in Blackpool.
Sian’s been a fundraiser in the arts for many years, working with organisations both large and small, and she’s passionate about the impact the arts can have not just on the well being of society as a whole – have you left a great performance with a spring in your step? – but also about the impact that watching or taking part in arts activity can have.
She said: “‘I’ve seen young people blossom and grow through taking part in performing arts, and many from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have their self-esteem boosted, and their aspirations raised through arts activity.’
“As an arts fundraiser, though, some of the processes that we have to take part in to get hold of funding from Government organisations leave you sapped of energy, and also have major costs to the organisations bidding, which can be very damaging, particularly if the companies are small.
“Funding through Government agencies often demands detailed data collection based on Government inspired targets. Whilst the aims might be laudable, frankly the cost to an organization of collecting and monitoring data in this kind of detail can be huge. Too often now the arts feel as if they are being used for social engineering, rather than cultural and personal enrichment’.
‘I was very pleased to hear Ed Vaizey, who is the son of art critic Marina Vaizey, talk about the Tories’ approach to the arts and cultural and creative industries. Ed said ‘We absolutely understand the value of the arts to our country, and when we’re elected, will be committed to sweeping away the tick box culture that has emerged in the last ten years, which has been so dispiriting. It’s time to trust the professionals, and that way we’ll also significantly reduce the cost of administering the bidding process – so more money for the front line’.
