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The Parties' Stance on the Arts: the Liberal Party

LIBERALS believe that the arts belong to everybody and should be opened up to all. As Liberals we want to foster the maximum participation in artistic and cultural activities and ensure that they are accessible to a wider public.

Administration and funding
We support the bringing together of all the various government responsibilities for the arts into a single department under a minister with a seat in the cabinet. This was long ago advocated by the Liberal Party.

We also support the delegation to bodies such as the Arts Councils and Regional Arts Boards of decisions about grants. This takes them away from direct political interference. We are however unhappy with the system of appointments to these bodies and want more elected representatives.

The National Lottery
Although welcoming the new funding for the arts generated by the National Lottery we are concerned at the relatively small proportion of the proceeds, 28%, allocated to “causes” while 12% is taken in taxation and 50% in prize money (the balance of 10% is the operating costs and commission paid to retailers). We advocate a revision of the allocation to give the same amount to causes as to prizes.

We believe that the large grants made from Lottery funds to prestige projects do little to encourage or make the arts more accessible to the general public. Liberals therefore call for a larger proportion of the available funds to be directed away from large scale renovations of single venues, to subsidies for arts performances and exhibitions outside London.

The Conservative Party
The Green Party
The Labour Party
The Liberal Party
The Liberal Democratic Party
The Monster Raving Loony Party
A brief introduction to the British political scene

Articles Indices:

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©Peter Lathan 2001