Dance Mapping - Arts Council England

PART THREE: Political
‘The real challenge for the arts sector is not to ask ‘what is the government going to do
to help us?’ but ‘what can we do to help the country weather and recover from this
downturn? Showing that we can make a real contribution in even the most difficult of
times will be the best case we can make for continued public investment in the arts
through – and just as importantly – beyond the recession.’
Dame Liz Forgan, Chair of Arts Council England, April 24 th 2009
‘The Government is committed to working in a joined-up way, and with a supportive
sector, to ensure that work undertaken is of maximum benefit to the artform and wider
social agendas.’
DCMS 2004
‘The Dance Manifesto is the first time that the British dance industry has united in one
voice in pushing for what is needed in order to safeguard and develop dance for the
future ensuring dance is available and affordable for everyone to watch, participate in
and enjoy.’
Victoria Todd, National Campaign for the Arts, 2006
1. ‘The Courage of Funders’
The beginning of 2008 was not a good year for the Arts Council. The Investment Strategy
review undertaken in 2007/08 led to an outcry within the sector and the new Chief Executive
of Arts Council England, Alan Davey responded by commissioning a review by Baroness
McIntosh. 13 This was published in July 2008 14 along with the Arts Council’s response to the
review.
Following this Arts Council England published a new three-year plan, embarked on the
development of a peer review process and an organisational review.
This context provided the background for a speech from Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts
Council England, in November 2008 at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). He stated:
‘My starting point tonight is a belief that if we get it right we can enter a new era in which
artistic excellence, risk and innovation are at the heart of what we do in the arts in England.
This will be linked to a new sense of ambition as to how we engage audiences and deepen
their understanding and ability to respond to the work produced.
13
McIntosh G, (2008) A review of Arts Council England’s regularly funded organisations investment strategy 2007/08.
London: Arts Council England
14
Arts Council England (2008) Review of Arts Council England’s regularly funded organisation’s investment strategy
2007-08 – Lessons learned
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