Artists enrich our lives. They drive economic growth, foster community cohesion, enhance education, support mental wellbeing and promote international cultural exchange. Yet our sector faces significant challenges that hinder its ability to survive and thrive.
Ahead of the UK general election, we’ve teamed up with 20 arts organisations from across the country to set out key policy recommendations, calling on the new government to provide long-term support to an industry worth more than £49 billion per year to the UK economy.
These include:
- Establish a Smart Fund to generate collective licensing revenue when copyright-protected works are created, shared, or distributed, across digital devices
- Appoint a Freelancer Commissioner to advocate for the rights and needs of freelancers in the visual arts sector
- Incorporate exhibition payments into copyright law
- Provide financial stability for disabled artists
- Integrate visual literacy into the National Curriculum at Key Stage 2
- Ensure every school child visits a cultural organisation annually
- Invest in affordable studios and artist-run spaces
- Re-establish a creative and cultural agreement with the EU
- Protect free entry to museums and galleries
- Promote philanthropy through tax Incentives
- Expand Museum Gallery Exhibition Tax Relief
- Explore the potential of a Tourist Levy to fund cultural projects
“This united call to action underscores the urgency for the UK government to engage with the visual arts and visual artists to create a sustainable and thriving visual arts sector.” Paula Orrell, CEO of CVAN
