News & Policy update / April 2011
*Reposted 10 May 2011*
With the country in Bank Holiday mode and parliament in recess, we are bringing you a shorter update this month with essential news, details of public consultations and the new Crafts Council briefing note on Craft and Well-being.
1) Budget:
On Wednesday 30 March, the Chancellor George Osborne presented the 2011 Budget. Some measures are expected to have an impact on the cultural and creative industries, including the announcement of a range of initiatives to encourage philanthropy and changes to the current Gift Aid system. The Chancellor also announced plans to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), including reducing regulation and increasing bank credit.
Visit the Treasury website for details of the Budget.
Plan for Growth
Alongside the Budget, the Government unveiled its Plan for Growth which includes further proposals to support creative industries – notably, the establishment of a Creative Industries Council. Other measures include adapting the flexible apprenticeships scheme to make it more accessible to digital and creative industries and developing a marketing plan through UKTI to promote opportunities for investment in UK digital and creative industries.
Access the Growth Review here.
Commenting on the Creative Industries Council in Parliament on 31 March the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, Sport and the Olympics Jeremy Hunt said:
‘I anticipate that the members of the Council will contain a representation of the key sub sectors and trade associations from across the creative industries…’
‘The purpose of the council is to provide a forum which can act as a voice for industry both within Government and outside, including in the financial sector.’
See Hansard here and here.
2) Arts Council – National Portfolio
On 30 March Arts Council England (ACE) announced its new National Portfolio of organisations that will receive core funding decisions between 2012 and 2015. ACE Chair Dame Liz Forgan said: ‘This is about a resilient future for the arts in England. We have taken the brave path of strategic choices not salami slices.’
Read the ACE announcement here and the Crafts Council’s statement here.
3) Public Consultations
A number of public consultations and reviews continue to be announced across Government. We have identified consultations of relevance to the craft sector below.
National Curriculum Review
Earlier in the month the Crafts Council submitted evidence to the Department for Education review of the National Curriculum. Our response is available here.
Well-being
The Office for National Statistics’ consultation on national well-being closed on 15 April. The consultation which has been running since 25 November aims to develop better measures of national well-being. A summary of comments will be available later in the summer.
More details of the ONS review here.
To coincide with ONS review, the Crafts Council has published a briefing note on Craft and Well-being. Tthe note draws on recent research by the Crafts Council, and investigates how and why a career in craft can provide job satisfaction, how participating in craft as a leisure activity can improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and what is distinctive about craft as a source of wellbeing both in leisure and in our working lives.
Read the briefing here.
Henley Review
Following his review into music education, Darren Henley has been commissioned by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to carry out a broader review of cultural education. This second review is intended to address three questions about cultural education.
- What cultural experiences should be included?
- How can cultural organisations create an offer which fulfils the needs of schools in providing a broad and truly rounded education for their students?
- How can we ensure that all opportunities are as good as the very best?
See the DCMS announcement here.
For details of how to respond visit the Department for Education website.
Labour Party Creative Industries Policy Review
The Shadow Culture Secretary Ivan Lewis MP has announced a Labour policy review of the future of the creative industries. The announcement said the review is in response to ‘a growing concern that the creative industries could suffer a manufacturing-like decline without concerted action through a partnership between Government and business’.
Read the announcement here.
Submissions and questions regarding Labour’s Creative Industries Policy Review can be sent to labourpolicyreview@gmail.com. The Crafts Council will be making a submission to the Review.
