Many long time readers of Theatre From My Head will probably remember an article I wrote several months back about the Budget and how it will effect the Performing Arts industry. If you do not remember or have not read it then you can find the link to it right... here. In the article I lambasted the current Labour government's decision to start downsizing the arts and cultural investments in their pre-budget plans and I feel right for doing so, I asked the questions that I felt needed answering. So it was with great relief, great happiness and much hope that I tuned into ITV just over three weeks ago to witness along with 9 million other people a brilliant fusion of theatre and politics, I am of course referring to the Election Debates. These were essentially performance pieces by each Party Leader and they were fantastic. The acting and theatre aspects were particularly obvious with some of the fake emotions and statements made by these politicians and in my mind only one of them came across as really genuine and naturalistic... Mr Clegg. In my own mind I dubbed these nights of debate and arguments 'Theatrical Thursdays with the PM' as I thought about how fun they were as well as interesting.
Nobody referenced the cuts that would be made to the arts sector in Debate number 1, not surprising there was nothing to discuss really. We are after all in a massively bad situation still with the national debt etc but in debates number 2 and 3 there was nothing either. The truth is the cuts that we have been told about will come, according to both David Cameron and Gordon Brown, from public services, so yes, your libraries will be cut further and there will be less of them, the ones left filled with people who probably are not being paid and don't know the job properly. David Cameron in the first Election Debate was talking about people volunteering their time to helping community establishments and services so I guess one of the first things to go will probably be Library assistants. It is, however, highly ironic when you think that being a right wing politician with capitalist friends he would suggest a very communist approach to local institutions. Or maybe heknows that Thatcherism is already going to be coming back and we will have another 8 million unemployed people who he has to place somewhere. Gordon Brown doesn't want to cut these things but is facing the real threat of the economy destabilising once again and is taking necessary precautions which is fair but still will cause long term damage in my estimations. The Liberal Democrats have completely laid out in their manifesto how they will take chunks out of the deficit including reducing public sector pensions in a fair way in collaboration with both government and the unions. Public sector spending in general will be assessed by an independent body that will advise a Liberal Democrat government how to streamline and get the best from these services with minimal cuts. So they are all going to cut into what little money there already is. Now the whole theatre thing is quite vague and I am sure none of the 3 party leaders are really that interested in whether this policy gets people voting or not but to me it is an important subject so I took a look at all three parties' manifestos and these is some of the highlights.
First the current Labour Government's policy (for full policy please click: here)
Labour has put culture, media and sport centre stage since we came to power in 1997 – in the last decade we have increased public funding by £541.3 million, an increase of 47.3 per cent.
We want to open up the arts and culture to everyone. We have put in place major initiatives, such as free entry to national museums and galleries, and free theatre for young people...
Over the past decade the creative sector has grown at twice the rate of the economy as a whole and the annual exports in cultural goods amount to £11.6 billion.
Of course the Labour Government has supported the sports sector more than any other but with the figures above and the abundance of theatres, schools, performance spaces and schemes to get people involved in creative activities they have shown they are committed to this subject. Of course as has been the overall theme for the Labour campaign this Election it is all about what they have already done, not what they will be doing in the future. So I do not know what to think regarding their arts and culture policy except perhaps hope that if re-elected the Government would still be dedicated to funding this sector.
Now for the Conservative Parties Policy (For the full policy please read: here)
With the London 2012 Olympic Games approaching, we have a wonderful opportunity to showcase these sectors and highlight the best sporting and cultural activities that Britain has to offer, promoting this country as the attractive tourist destination it undoubtedly is.
I really recommend you read the full policy as it is just another attack on the Labour government and then goes on to talk about London 2012 and that is about it. Well there is one big problem there for me, we go into 2012 and then what happens for the next 3 years of the Tory term? I just wish the Tories had put a better well rounded explanation for what they see theatre and the arts adding to the UK or will add to the UK with their support. Still maybe they think that they do not need to invest money in the theatre because of the amount of plays and shows made during their terms of power about how awful it is to live in a Conservative England.
The Liberal Democrats. (For full policy please go: here)
Liberal Democrats recognise the enormous contribution that arts, heritage and culture make to the lives of citizens. We believe that culture should be valued for its own sake as well as for the undoubted benefits to other areas, such as the economy, health, crime prevention and education.
We believe that public investment in the arts should fund talent not bureaucracy, and sustainability not short-term initiatives.
Now I chose these two quotes because I found them the most relevant to me and the rest of the policy covers ways they would improve the culture, media and sports sector. They go into detail about their hopes and attitude towards television, radio and the Internet. I should also point out that the Lib Dems also attack the Government on their usage of the Lottery funding just like the Conservatives but don't make it a focal part of their policy.
After the fantastic acting we have seen every Thursday night for the past 3 weeks- kudos to Nick Clegg for practicing this act over the years with the likes of Sam Mendes and Helena Bonham Carter- it has been an Election campaign trail not to forget and I get to top my month of Thursday Theatrical fun with the Olivier Award Winning 'Morecambe' when it rolls into Worthing on the 6th of May. A new Government and a Theatrical event, oh what fun!
CHEAP PLUG
Tickets are still available for Morecambe at the Pavilion tickets can be purchased: here. Curtain goes up at 7:30.
Xtofer
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