Local culture can be used to support mental wellbeing, provide educational opportunity and create jobs as part of the recovery from the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, according to a new LGA report.
The LGA’s Independent Commission on Culture and Local Government found that greater collaborative work between councils and cultural partners, combined with streamlined place-based funding from government, is crucial to supporting one of the fastest-growing parts of the economy.
Local government invests £1.1 billion directly in cultural services each year in England, with the creative industries contributing £115.9 billion to the UK economy and accounting for 2.2 million jobs in 2019.
But this funding is under strain, given the pressure on public services and wider challenges facing councils.
In its final report, the commission, led by Baroness Lola Young, sets out how to secure the future of what it calls “this vital community infrastructure”. It identifies four key ‘cornerstones’ essential to a healthy local cultural ecosystem – capacity, leadership, funding and evidence – and sets out detailed recommendations for securing the future of local, publicly funded culture.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “Culture is so important to our country, from wellbeing and a sense of place in our communities, to economic and education benefits.
“Local government is the biggest public funder of culture, able to target money at the activities and places that need it most.
“Our report, concluding the excellent work of our independent commission, rightly highlights the need to prioritise this sector and provide a sustainable, multi-year funding settlement to local government, along with streamlining the multiple small funding pots made available for cultural projects.”