We are only a few months away from a general election, a new government and a spending review that will have a significant impact on the future of arts and culture in England. Might this period of change present an opportunity for the sector to come together to form a new contract for arts and culture?
The RSA, supported by Arts Council England, has begun to develop a draft contract that comprises a set of ‘asks' and ‘offers' to government. Proposals will address diversity, funding, education, talent & skills development, local and national cultural strategy, and leadership. It aims to reflect a sector-wide conversation and to crystallise shared ambitions. We now want to work with What Next?, the British Council, The Creative Industries Federation, the findings of the Warwick Commission and the wider arts and cultural sector to explore the feasibility of these ideas and this approach; starting with an open conversation at the RSA to interrogate the proposition.
We want to know what you think about this idea. Do you welcome the approach as a whole? Is there anything you don’t like? What’s missing? Come to the RSA on 11 March to join an engaged audience to explore and debate the proposed contract.
Speakers will include Peter Bazalgette, Vikki Heywood, Matthew Taylor, John Knell, Sylvan Baker, Lucy Kerbel, Jonathan Wakeham, Claire Mansfield, Laura Sillars and John Kampfner - but the emphasis of the event is about listening and learning from everyone.
You can also tweet us your views: #culturalcontract
View the current draft of ‘Toward a new contract for arts & culture’
