Member of Parliament for Gosport, Dame Caroline Dinenage, led a Parliamentary debate on the UK’s cultural sector this week.
In the debate, the former Minister of State for Culture, spoke of the importance of culture and creativity to the local and national economy, driving exports, and on soft power on the international stage.
Caroline focused on the economic value of the creative industries which employs 2.1 million people and contributes £116 billion to the economy.
She also called for the government to develop a supportive policy environment, in which the cultural industry can flourish, to maximise export potential and the economic success of the sector. She cited examples of other countries such as South Korea and other European nations who utilise Creative Industry export hubs to maximise their outreach.
Referencing the success of Gosport Gallery, part of Hampshire Cultural Trust, Dame Caroline praised current government support with schemes such as High Street Heritage Action Zones. She also welcomed the recent Arts Council focus on redistribution of funds which had previously been disproportionately centred in London. However she cautioned against tokenism in plans to relocate institutions such as the English National Opera, while cutting their funding, which risks undermining their great work across the country while creating a more elite regional organisation.
She also spoke of a Smart Fund proposal, which would safeguard freelance creators on the digital landscape, as has been done in over 45 countries. This would help support creators, as well as providing a boost to the economy.
Speaking in the debate, Dame Caroline said:
“It feels like as a country we haven’t always supported or nurtured our world leading creative talent as we should, or understood our arts and culture for the golden economic goose that it is.”
“Our artists and our creatives have a unique power. They can lift spirits and improve well-being, they can regenerate communities and promote levelling up, they can drive economic prosperity, and turbo-charge global trade. No other sector can do all of those things.”
“I would urge the Minister to leave no stone unturned in efforts to harness that potential.”
The responding Minister, Stuart Andrew said:
“This governments investment in culture is at the heart of its levelling up approach. The enrichment that culture brings to people’s lives needs to be more equitably spread.”
“In terms of creative exports, the UKs creative industries were identified in the governments export strategy as a priority sector to contribute to the government’s target of £1 trillion of exports by 2035.”
