Should The Government Spend More on the Arts?
With Rachel Reeves set to announce spending plans today, we ask if the arts should receive a bigger share
As an arts residency programme, it won’t come as a surprise that we believe the answer is yes. But this isn’t just about our passion - the evidence shows that investing in the arts delivers real returns. In this article, we set out why increased funding isn’t a luxury, but a smart, strategic investment in the economy and wellbeing.
Already Lagging Behind
According to The State of the Arts report, the UK ranks among the lowest in Europe for government spending on arts and culture. That’s despite being home to a huge pool of artistic talent across the country. It has not always been this way, but in recent years, the sector has been battered by austerity. Between 2009-10 and 2022-23, the Arts Councils’ core Government funding has decreased by 18% in England, 22% in Scotland, 25% in Wales and 66% in Northern Ireland.
Spending a Drop in the Ocean
If Rachel Reeves is looking to trim public spending in some areas, the arts is hardly the place to start. By 2022, the government's spending on culture accounted for a mere 0.46% of GDP. For reference, the European average was 0.74%, highlighting just how low a priority the arts have been for successive governments.
So, even a significant cut would barely register on the balance sheet, but it would have a disproportionate impact on the people and communities that benefit from arts funding.
Arts are a Great Return on Investment
Every sector argues it’s worth investing in. But the arts don’t just feel valuable - they actually are, a point backed up by recent research.
The State of the Arts report found that 91% of adults engaged with the arts in person between 2022 and the end of 2023, and 77% attended events. Clearly, this is not a niche interest, more a national habit.
On top of this, arts funding is economically effective. A report commissioned by the Arts Council of Wales found that for every £1 spent on the arts, there was a £2.51 return. It’s fair to assume a similar pattern exists across the UK and that further funding for the arts would help boost the economy.
More Than Money
There’s also the very real impact the arts have on people’s lives.
A report by the consultancy Frontier Economics found that individuals who engaged in arts and crafts experienced greater happiness, higher life satisfaction, and an increased sense of purpose. Remarkably, the positive impact on their sense of life's worth was comparable to the effect of being in employment.
Since government policy is often shaped by data, let's put a number on the value of improved livelihoods. The Frontier report estimated that engaging with culture generates around £8bn a year in improvements to people’s quality of life and productivity. One illustrative example involved over-65s attending drawing classes at a local museum for three months. The result? A dividend of £1,310 each from seeing their GP less and feeling better about their lives.
Conclusion
With arts funding already at low levels and falling in real terms since 2010, it’s almost impossible to justify cutting it further, especially when the evidence shows how much value it creates, both financially and socially.
We’re not holding our breath for a major policy shift, but we’re encouraged by the work of organisations like Campaign for the Arts, who are keeping this issue in the spotlight. Because if we want a thriving, healthy, connected society, we need to start treating the arts as essential, not expendable.