Election Day is only a week away. For those of you eagerly gripping your polling cards as well as your paintbrushes, Jon Morse considers the Arts & Culture policies of the 3 main parties.

The Election has sparked a wealth of new art works throughout the country.

Hooded artists using Montanas and markers have used Tory billboards as giant canvases  - adding increasingly inventive and poignant illustrations to Cameron’s big, airbrushed face. Hurrah! This so-called ‘Election Street Art’ is guaranteed to bring a smile to motorists as they battle the rush hour queue yet, in truth, the Arts are in a perilous position.

A fine example of Election Street Art

So what would any of the parties actually do for the Arts if they got into power and more than that – is it even worth worrying about?

Well firstly, yes, it is all rather important. With such a huge deficit facing whatever party is victorious next week (or, let’s face it – a shared problem for all of them) it’s easy to cut the Arts and Culture budget for a starters to get us back on track. On the surface it appears expendable. Surely there are better things to worry about at the moment than putting on exhibitions and shows and making sure everyone has enough white spirit?

But let’s not forget the power that art and culture can wield. It can transcend age, culture, race and background. It has the potential to inspire, amaze and uplift us all; something that should surely be a priority at this bleak time.

Although this may sound hopelessly romantic (“I don’t mind being unemployed and on a 8-month NHS waiting list as long as I have a canvas and some acrylic”) here’s a few stats to soften you sceptics. 

• On an average night 34,000 people watch a show in London.

• In the last 10 years the creative industries have grown faster than the rest of the economy.

• Between 2008-09 40 million people visited London museums.*

*Stats quoted from the Guardian.co.uk

These are pretty impressive statistics that not only highlight support for cultural activities in the UK but of course the importance of this sector for economic recovery.

A reduction in funding would also mean a reduction in actual events for the people; in exhibitions, shows, productions etc. It is also logical to assume that if the plug is pulled then the actual quality of work and talent coming from this country would suffer.

Two thirds of the adult population in this country enjoy the arts. Whether it be going to the theatre, visiting national heritage sites, exhibitions or museums. There aren’t really two thirds of the adult population who agree on much and the 3 main parties certainly don’t when it comes to policy on Arts and Culture.

Labour

Now Labour, in all fairness, have been good to the Arts. They have pumped millions of pounds into the creative industries and provided generous funding to the Arts Council. Speaking of the Arts, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw has claimed that they are “essential to economic success” perhaps highlighting its continued importance to Labour should they (miraculously) stay in power.

The Conservatives

Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Culture Secretary, with all the charisma of a particularly wet fish points to the fact that the National Lottery was created under a Conservative government. This, he insinuates, is rather jolly as the lottery funds a wealth of creative projects throughout the country. It should be noted that of the three main parties the Tories dedicate very little to the Arts in their manifesto.

Liberal Democrats

Culture Spokesperson Don Foster is most sympathetic to the impact and importance of Art and Culture. Indeed, only the Lib Dems explicitly pledge to keep funding steady pointing out that “only 7p of every £100 of government funding goes to the Arts” and therefore reducing this poultry amount would be “economic stupidity.”

The cultural backbone of the country relies on government funding and such funding is likely to be severely chopped by the two main parties. Why you might base your vote on a party’s Arts and Culture policy may be any of the following:

Stupid / idealistic / not as silly as it sounds.

I suppose it really depends on how you perceive the influence of the creative industries in this country.

In the meantime support your local gallery – it looks like they’re going to need it.