We started our business in 2004 under a Labour government, clearly feeling the benefits of a healthy economy. However, having survived the rollercoaster of nearly 20 years in business we still feel the need to advocate for greater support for the arts. Our day to day success relies on financial stability and as a small business, working with many self-employed freelance artists, we want to see more support to ensure prompt payments.

In previous blogs, we’ve discussed the need to see more investment in creative education and skills development. We both came through the art college system so it’s been heart breaking to see too many Art Colleges closing in recent years. It is so important to continue funding the next generation of talent. Creative thinking and problem solving is vital to keeping us ahead of the curve, and to address the big challenges we face today.

In the lead-up to the election, we were following the Artists’ Union’s calls for a new government to:

1. Increase public funding for arts and culture, making it accessible to all.
2. Fair pay and rights for freelance and self-employed artists and art workers
3. Ensure arts education is accessible for all
4. Create a sustainable future for artist practices
5. Right to a decent standard of living for artists and other workers

The Labour Party manifesto was a little vague on the support for the arts. Proposals plan to address various challenges and enhance support for local governments, cultural access, and education. Most notably it is good to see an expert-led review of the curriculum and assessment to ensure a broad education, while securing the future of higher education.

This chimes with the recent report from The Cultural Learning Alliance, that Bridget Phillipson, the new Secretary of State for Education has said “there is a real issue around creativity in our state schools and the lack of access that state school students have to music, sport, art and drama.” Phillipson said that she does not believe this “should be the preserve of just those whose parents can afford to pay for extras on a weekend or after school,” suggesting she would support increased funding for access to creative arts and sport as part of the curriculum. Phillipson’s words have also chimed with the CLA’s own reporting on the ‘enrichment gap’ in schools revealed in their 2024 Report Card.

We will also be watching with keen interest on the fostering of growth in creative industries through a sector plan.

Outside of the arts our focus has also been on the recent speech by the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whose comprehensive and ambitious plan to overhaul the planning system, promising updates to the National Planning Policy Framework, support for local planning authorities, and a focus on energy projects and housing delivery.

It’s a strong start and one we will be watching carefully as a well-funded and efficient planning system can only be beneficial in the work we do.

Since the results of the 4^th July Polling Day, we have been digesting Arts Council England’s announcements about what the reality of this next political chapter will mean for government funding for the country’s cultural sector. ACE CEO Darren Henley encourages readers to continue to advocate to their MPs for continued and increased investment in the arts, as we approach a soon-to-anticipated Spending Review. He also aligns ACE priorities with the government’s five missions to rebuild Britain.

We are encouraged that the new focus on mission-driven government, public service and economic renewal, fits well with the central themes of our own work: Connecting people, celebrating place and adding value and impact to communities to make places better by working with artists.

We look forward to this next chapter in our country’s history and the part we will play.