Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Photo: Twocoms/Shutterstock
Giverny Masso, Labour pledges £1bn investment as part of new charter for the arts, 25 November 2019
The Labour Party is pledging £1 billion of investment in cultural infrastructure as part of a new charter for the arts.
Party leader Jeremy Corbyn launched the charter, which is in addition to the party’s election manifesto, at Theatre Royal Stratford East in London on November 24.
Key points in the charter for the arts include:
- To invest £1 billion in cultural infrastructure to upgrade and build new arts venues, galleries, museums and libraries across the UK.
- To introduce an £175 million a year arts pupil premium to “give every primary school student in the country” access to the arts.
- To launch a new ‘Town of Culture’ competition.
- To invest £1 billion in youth services.
- To maintain free access to national museums and galleries.
- To introduce greater transparency in lottery funding and ensure grants are shared out fairly between all communities.
Corbyn said: “The arts are a common inheritance that make our society culturally richer and put a smile on all our faces. We must cherish them and protect them.
“Labour’s national strategy for the arts will embrace our rich cultural heritage from William Shakespeare to Ben Okri, Mary Quant to Tim Berners-Lee, delivering a national cultural renaissance.”
He added: “The government I lead will ensure that every child has the opportunity to access the arts, learn a musical instrument and develop their creativity.
“Proper funding for the arts will be central to Labour’s commitment in government to enable people to lead more enjoyable and fulfilling lives.”
Actor Mark Rylance, who attended the launch event, said he was “thrilled” by the charter.
He added: “From my experience, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell clearly love the arts and are moved by the arts.
“Jeremy Corbyn means what he says when he wants things to be fairer in our society and his love of Shakespeare is very encouraging.”
