Threats to local arts provision: tell I Value the Arts today!

[John Munro]

In the wake of cuts to both the Arts Council and local government, arts organisations across the country will be feeling the squeeze. If you know of any local arts provision that is under threat, please contact me at: [e-mail]

Communities across the country are already feeling the pinch and in Somerset, members of the County Council are meeting to discuss the possibility of cutting their arts spend altogether - directly jeopardising ten arts organisations across the county.

If you know of any other examples like this please do get in touch - we really want to hear from you.

For more information on I Value the Arts, goto: www.ivaluethearts.org.uk

Many Thanks

John Munro

Campaigns Manager, National Campaign for the Arts

[e-mail]

T: 020 7287 3777 

[John Munro]

The I Value the Arts Campaign sent out this email to its Somerset sign-ups last night. I would urge anyone with contacts in somerset to forward this message to them:

Dear friend,

The Cabinet of Somerset County Council is meeting on 1 November to discuss axing the funding it gives to a number of arts organisations in the county from 2011/12. This could result in 10 arts organisations in Somerset losing ALL of their funding from the County Council. Final funding decisions are not being taken at this meeting, though this discussion will form the background for decisions being taken in the near future. The council expects that this withdrawal of funding will mean that a number of these orgainsations will not be financially viable going forward.

Following 28% cuts to local government funding in the spending review, all local authorities are reviewing their budgets. If you care about arts provision in your area and believe that artistic activity and opportunities should continue to be supported, you need to take action now.

There are three important things you can do to show decision makers how much you value the arts in Somerset and why they should too:

1. Attend the meeting
It is important that as many people as possible turn up to support the arts in Somerset. Good attendance from people who value the arts will show Councillors that the arts in Somerset are vital, valued and should not be cut.

The council's Cabinet will meet at 10 am on Monday 1 November at the Auditorium, Taunton Conference Centre, Somerset College, Wellington Road, Taunton.

You may ask a question or make a statement during the Public Question Time section of the meeting. If you wish to speak, you will need to contact Vicki May on 01823 357148 or [e-mail] by no later than 12pm on Friday 29 October. Any requests to speak made after this time will not be considered.

Full guidance notes for the public can be downloaded here

2. Write to your councillors
If you cannot attend the meeting, you can still make your views known by writing to your councillors and giving personal reasons why the arts are important to you.

You can find out who represents you on Somerset County Council by clicking here and entering your postcode. You can then obtain full contact details for your councillor here

You may also wish to make some or all of the following points:

LOCAL EVENTS:
The arts and a cultural life really matter to people and make a difference to their lives.
In England alone there are 49,150 amateur groups across the country with total membership of 5.9 million, and a further 3.5 million volunteering as extras or helpers, making a total of 9.4 million people taking part in the arts.

LOCAL JOBS AND ECONOMY:
If possible provide local employment statistics. [Arts Council funded organisations alone in England sustain the employment of approximately 48,500 people, with a further 17,900 working in a voluntary capacity.]
Arts centres, theatres, studios, galleries, etc., are mini industries in each community, employing local people.
People working in the arts locally form an important part of the fabric of community. (It is worth noting too that people involved in the arts tend to be outgoing by nature, be more involved in the community, and more likely to vote!)

LOCAL TOURISM:
Local arts events, such as festivals, concerts, plays, music sessions or exhibitions, are vital for attracting tourists, marking out a community as special and different.

LOCAL INVESTMENT:
Attractive places to live and visit are also attractive to businesses and investment. The arts also play a vital role in maintaining a smart, flexible, innovative workforce.
The creative industries invest in places they know they can find smart, creative people, and in places where people want to come and live.

LOCAL PRIDE AND MORALE:
We are not just an economy, we are a society made up of communities of people. The arts play an important role in the health and vitality of our local communities.
Our music, our literature, our drama, our artists, will give us the perspective we need to get though the recession.
In times time of crisis, the arts can provide comfort and strength and indeed joy and pleasure to many.

3. Pass it on

Pass this email on to other people you know in Somerset who value the arts.

The louder we shout, the more likely we are to be heard!

For more information about the I Value the Arts campaign, go to: www.ivaluethearts.org.uk

Or contact the National Campaign for the Arts on 020 7287 3777

Many thanks

John Munro
Campaigns Manager, National Campaign for the Arts
[e-mail]
T: 020 7287 3777

[Sarah Kennedy]

Hi

I am blogging about #artsfunding in Shropshire here http://ow.ly/34gA2 it is a new community driven website called Imagine Shropshire.

Part 1 is up and Part 2 will be up in a couple of days, it would be great to get more Shropshire artists, organisations and audiences involved in the debate. I read the piece in Arts Industry on the AMA website and totally agree that we need the audience with us on this one, so am keen to get some interest and dialogue.

Sarah

[Sarah Kennedy]

As per my post above, my 2nd blog post is now live: A Little Bit of Art and Soul on Imagine Shropshire http://ow.ly/35ZJb about arts funding in Shropshire.