3 simple questions re the Arts,Election and Plymouth

3leadersb

Dear Parliamentary candidates
 
Now that your manifestos have been published - can you answer here please - by commenting on this post.
 
1. What do you regard as unique about your Party's policy regarding the Arts and Creative Industries ?
 
2. What specific improvements can the Arts and Creative industries (as a major part of the economy in Plymouth and the Southwest) expect to see if you form (or have a part to play) in the next government ?  One or two examples is all I'm asking here.
 
3. What specific arts related initiatives and projects in Plymouth and area, would you want to support and promote as a constituency MP if elected ?
 
Many thanks
 
Steve

The link for this post has been tweeted or sent via email for the 3 candidates for each of the 3 main parties in the 3 Plymouth based constituencies.

The responses (or lack of them ) to date are as follow -

1. Stuart Bonar - Lib Dem - Moorview - a full response - see comments to this post

2. Anna Pascoe -Lib Dem - South West Devon was emailed a link to the questions on 24/04/10 - and has responded in full - see comments to this post dated 27/04/10.

3. Gary Streeter - Conservative - South West Devon initially sent a holding response - "may get round to it" ( see comments ). He didn't got round to it - so another reminder email went to him on 26/04/10. He has finally responded - and you can see his reponse in full in the comments to this post - dated 26/04/10.

4. Matthew Goves - Conservative - Moor View has responded - response posted below in comments 05/05/10

5. Luke Pollard - Labour - South West Devon - a full response - which has been copied without edit to the comments on this post

6. Judy Evans - Lib Dem - Sutton and Devonport - has responded - see comments to this post.

7. Alison Seabeck - Labour - Moor View - has responded - her answers are copied without edit to the comments on this post.

8. Linda Gilroy - Labour - Sutton and Devonport - has not responded at all - a further reminder went out on 26/04/10 - no response - so another tweet on 01/05/10.

9. Oliver Colvile - Conservative - Sutton and Devonport - has responded - response has been copied into comments 05/05/10 

 

ps don't forget to visit my on-line gallery as well :-) www.mydogateart.blogspot.com

Lib Dems' policies on the arts in their 2010 election manifesto

3leadersb

 

I've searched through and here are the Liberal Democrat manifesto commitments on the arts and creative industries at this general election

 " ... access to culture and sport
 
Liberal Democrats believe that the arts are a central part of civic and community life. They contribute to innovation, education, diversity, and social inclusion, and the creative industries are one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. Britain’s culture and heritage play a vital role in attracting visitors to the UK and boosting the very important tourism industry.
 
We will  foster an environment in which all forms of creativity are able to flourish.
 
We are proud that Britain is hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, and we support bids for other high-profile events such as the 2018 World Cup – but we believe that grassroots sport is just as important. We  will give people from all backgrounds and generations the opportunity to participate in sports.

 

Liberal Democrats will

 

Maintain free entry to national museums and galleries and open up the Government Art Collection for greater public use.

 Set up a ‘Creative Enterprise Fund’ offering training, mentoring and small grants or loans to help creative businesses get off the ground.

Cut red tape for putting on live music. We will reintroduce the  rule allowing two performers of unamplified music in any licensed  premises without the need for an entertainment licence,

Allow licensed  venues for up to 200 people to host live music without the need for an entertainment licence, and remove the requirement for schools and hospitals to apply for a licence.

Reform the National Lottery. We will change the way the National  Lottery is taxed from a ticket tax to a gross profi ts tax, which is forecast to deliver more for good causes and the Exchequer.

Use cash in dormant betting accounts to set up a capital fund for improving local sports facilities and supporting sports clubs.

Close loopholes that allow playing fields to be sold or built upon without going through the normal planning procedures.

A strong and diverse media, free from government interference and pressure is essential to a free and democratic society. We will:

Ensure that the BBC remains strong, free from interference and  securely funded, not least to provide impartial news, independent of political and commercial pressures.

We will also ensure that the BBC  does not undermine the viability of other media providers through unfair competition based on its public funding and dominant position.

Support a diverse regional and local media. We will help to maintain independent local sources of news and information by enabling partnerships between TV, radio and newspaper companies to reduce costs, and by limiting publicly-subsidised competition for paid advertising from local council free-sheets "

So there it is ... specific questions to the candidates in Plymouth tomorrow - 3 weeks to go to polling.

Here's the 

 LIBERAL DEMOCRAT 2010 ELECTION MANIFESTO

 

Seconds out - round 1 - it's the Labour manifesto..

3leadersb

 

Originally I was going to pose four or five questions to each of the candidates from the 3 main English parties standing for election in Plymouth regarding their policies on the arts in the run up to polling day.
  
I then realised that today was the Labour's manifesto, tomorrow belongs to the Tories (no analogy intended) and Wednesday the Lib Dems reveal all. So I thought I'd let them have their uninterrupted say and then quiz them all afterward...
 
So here - if you wish to read it ,in all its 76 page glory is the  
 
 
Now it may be that you are not that interested in the content - but if you have an interest in the arts you may wish to read ( pretty much in its entirity) what Gordon has to say on the subject ... I have italicised what I gather to be the specfic actions to be taken which are different from what is happening today.
 
So - here it is
 

" Operational independence for major museums and galleries, with more lottery funding returning to the arts, sport and culture after 2012.

  

Culture and the arts are vital to a modern economy. But they stand for more than material success, reminding us that society is not just a marketplace.

Promoting well-being means sustaining the community institutions that we most cherish, and protecting those areas of our public life that embody the common good.

 

Arts, culture and museums

 

We have made unprecedented investment in Britain’s cultural life, widening access by introducing free admission to museums and galleries. Every child and young person should be entitled to five hours of art,music and culture per week, through learning to play a musical instrument, visiting local museums and joining film clubs, or taking part in local theatre.

 

Through Creative Partnerships we are ensuring that young people in the most deprived parts of the country are able to fulfil their artistic talents by working with local arts and cultural organisations.

 

We have provided the first  nationwide programme of free theatre to young people; now we will build on the success of the National Theatre’s £10 Season to work with theatres and sponsors to provide reduced-rate tickets for theatrical productions around Britain.

 

Our national cultural life and creative industries can prosper only by developing young artistic talent. Creative Bursaries will support the most artistically gifted young people in their early professional careers.

 

So that our cultural facilities remain world-class, charities, businesses and cultural organisations must collaborate more closely in the future. We will review how incentives for philanthropic support can be strengthened.

 

Our major museums and galleries should be operationally independent of government, so we will legislate to ensure their managerial and financial autonomy.

 

We will maintain our commitment to free admissions, encouraging people of all ages and a wide range of backgrounds to visit. Every child will have lifetime library membership from birth.

 

Britain is enriched by its unique historical heritage.

 

We will review the structures that oversee English Heritage,putting mutual principles at the heart of its governance so that people can have a direct say over the protection and  maintenance of Britain’s built historical legacy. We will give public institutions new rights to borrow works of art from the national collection, so that more people can benefit  from access to our national artistic heritage.

 

National Lottery funding is more in tune with people’spriorities than ever. We will promote greater public involvement in the way that National Lottery proceeds are spent on good causes. A proportion of Lottery funding is going to the Olympics. After 2012, this proportion will return to culture, heritage and sport."

 

 

I have searched through the 76 pages and this is it as far as I can ascertain - if you have any views or comments feel free to add them.

 
And so...there it was - can't wait until tomorrow's offering. 
 
 
 
 
 

Credit where it's due

3leadersb

 

Liberal Democrat candidate for Plymouth Moorview, Stuart Bonar has actually come up with some specifics about the direction of Arts policy in Plymouth after the general election.
 
Before you pop across and have a read of Stuart's blog, I want to make this point -
 
This is exactly the sort of statement of ideas and intent I would like all the candidates locally (and in other constituencies around the UK) to be making publicly. I am not overtly supporting anyone at this election - my vote is between me and the ballot box - and I will not decide on any single issue.
 
But as a member of the wider arts, cultural and creative industries community in Plymouth I welcome the fact that someone is at least saying something about an important part of the local economy... please go and make your responses ...
 
If anyone else surfaces - I'll be reporting it here. 
 
So - here's the link to his Election Blog
 
And thanks again to Stuart Bonar who at least realises that directly addressing and interacting with part of his "constituency" is an actual responsibility for a Parliamentary candidate. 

I'm still waiting for my coffee - and I guess I may have to for a little while...

3leadersb

 

The election is on - so I think I may have to wait ...

A little while ago I invited 9 local Parliamentary candidates (that's the 3 candidiates from the 3 main parties in each Plymouth constituency) to publicly let the artistic and cultural community in Plymouth know what will be happening to the "arts" after the election; if their party holds power, or the balance of power. I am using the term "arts" loosely to describe arts,culture and the creative industries.

(see previous blog post for information)

5 of them who use social media I asked publicly via Twitter and facebook. The other four  I emailed directly via their public emails and websites.

Well the early results are in - 

Anna Pascoe contacted me on behalf of the Liberal Democrats - and said they would be happy to meet over a coffee. I said "fine" and have waited to hear back

Luke Pollard contacted me on his own behalf and said he would be happy to meet over a coffee. I said "fine" and have waited to hear back.

From Alison Seabeck and Linda Gilroy - no response.

From the Conservatives - no response at all to my emails - not even acknowledgements.

So as far as the "arts" debate goes in Plymouth we are in a cappucino-pending situation.

But knowing how elections run - chances are that I'll be going thirsty.

So here's another plea - what will the arts landscape in Plymouth look like after the election ? Feel free to post your comments here - especially those 9 of you who actually want people to vote for you...

See you next time

What will this man do to arts funding & policy after the General Election ?

Civil_servant

 

It's a cheap way to use one of my paintings here - but hey a boy has to try and earn a living - it's called "CIVIL SERVANT" by the way  - he may well be in charge anyway - which is why I've used it here.

With a general election looming my thoughts turn to which of the 3 main parties are best equipped to serve the arts community.

I am, as yet, undecided on that score...

So as a starting point I watched these short interviews with the 3 spokespersons. 

INTERVIEW WITH ALL 3 MAIN PARTIES RE ARTS FUNDING

I'll be honest - it's still not 100% clear to me after watching this.

My gut feeling is that the Tories have never been a friend to the arts in any real sense, and my memory takes me back to the early eighties and arts council funding shrinking- and what money that there was - was directed at "big" arts. However - having trawled around the internet and news stories there is not 100% approbation for the present regime and its record. The Liberal Democrats will have to wait and see what their role is (if there is a hung parliament), before being able to deliver anything.

To try and make it clearer I went to the relevant on-line Party statements -

some detail and specifics

almost no detail

some detail and specifics

After reading these - I am still in the quandary - though it must be said the Tories are going to have to go some, to be at all convincing in this area.

What I was hoping for was a big idea - how about, as an example, something like the

(There's an idea to make Daily Mail copy-writers froth at the mouth)

I'm not arguing for this specifically - it wouldn't be bad though ; but all the major parties make play of the cultural and economic importance of the the arts and creative industries - but do little to excite the individuals (including me) and groups who are trying to make a basic living.

To localise this I am going to send a link for this blog post out to the canidates for all 3 Plymouth constituencies where I can - and see if I can get some public responses here.

Please pass it on and comment.

See you next time