Last week people from across the UK exercised their democratic right to vote in the General Election on 4th July and, as a result, this week a new government is forming.
While the Prime Minister is forming his cabinet and setting out priorities for the coming weeks, months and years, we at DaDa wanted to highlight key opportunities and priorities we think should be taken into consideration. So here is our open letter to the new government to offer them our insights on disability, arts and access, laying out our key asks on behalf of the disability arts community.
Dear Prime Minister,
As an award winning disability arts charity with an international reach, we feel it important to lend our expertise to future planning that involves arts and access. So with that in mind, we have drawn up some key priority areas we feel should be considered carefully when forming your new government and setting out the UK budget for the coming year. Here are our six key asks:
We want to see an arts sector that is valued, secure and properly funded. According to equity, Since 2017,arts funding from UK arts councils has been cut by 16% in real terms. Funding in England has dropped by 11%, in Wales by 30% and in Northern Ireland by 16%.
Why does it matter? The creative industries are fundamental to future UK prosperity, making up nearly 6% of GDP. The government estimated in 2022 that creative industries generated£126bn in gross value added to the economyand employed 2.4 million people in the UK.
In summary, without a thriving arts sector, our economy is suffering.
We want to see a commitment to valuing arts education. A report led by Tate called Tracking Arts Learning and Engagement(TALE) showed that studying the arts alongside other subjects significantly boosts student achievement. Schools that integrate arts into their curriculum show improved student performance in Maths, English, critical thinking and verbal skills.
It also showed that students from low-income families who take part in arts activities at school are three times more likely to take a degree, improving their economic opportunity.
In 2021 arts subjects at higher education (HE) level in England faced a brutal 50% funding cut. And as primary and secondary education budgets have been squeezed, arts subjects are often the first to take a hit.
But the evidence is clear – cutting arts education has a knock on socio economic impact, and reduces academic achievement. We need to re-invest in arts education programmes both within formal education settings, and through specialist arts organisations that improve access for all.
We need a public transport system fit for purpose in terms of access for those with disabilities. In 2023 Transport for All released a report sharing that, based on their research, disabled people make far fewer journeys than non-disabled people, with an average of just 5.84 journeys per week. This is a third of the national average of 17 trips a week according to the National Travel Survey5. Overwhelmingly, disabled people said that the main reason for not making as many journeys as they would like is down to external factors: access barriers.
Without robust and accessible transport links, our artists and audiences can’t travel and access the same opportunities for work and leisure. We can’t claim to have connectivity and offer alternative sustainable transport solutions if a large portion of society are excluded.
We want reassurance that there will always be a dedicated minister for disabilities. This role was scrapped after TomPursglove's move to the Home Office, and was later brought back following outcry from the disabled community. We need to know there will always be someone in parliament advocating on behalf of disabled people, and understanding that we need to look through the lens of the social model of disability instead of leaving disabled people out of policy and practice.
We need to see art as a lucrative export industry. UK artists exporting and showcasing abroad is a trade industry with untapped potential. A 2023 UK Music report showed that Music exports alone were worth £2.5 billion in 2021 with huge growth potential the value of the global recorded music market set to double by 2030 to $52.3 billion.
We need to support our artists through funding both artist development, and international showcasing and trade opportunities. Through offering growth support we expand our reach and become an international competitor.
We want to see funding ringfenced to support arts venues with essential capital investment to improve access.
Research published by SOLT & UK Theatre on Monday 1st July 2024 demonstrates the urgent need for sustainable investment in theatre buildings across the UK and highlights how this will in turnstrengthen communities, providejob opportunities and boost the UK’s creative exports.
One in five venues require at least £5m each in the next 10 years just to continue current operations and it is estimated that without significant capital investment in the next five years, nearly 40% of venues risk closure and 40% will become too unsafe to use.
In 2019,VocalEyessurveyedtheatre accessibility by studying the access information available on theatre websites. They found that only around three in ten UK theatres list one or more access services for upcoming productions. Overall, just 20% of theatres included audio description for performances, 21% provided British Sign Language interpretation, and 19% offered captioning.
Without this investment we risk the more than 200,000 jobs connected to venues and the £2.39bn GDP created annually by theatre.
While some capital investment has been made, we still have an industry creaking under pressure and venues that are leaving many disabled people out in the cold, literally!
In 2018 the British Council published an article by our former CEO Ruth Gould entitled “Disability Arts – a catalyst for change”. Many of the issues raised then and suggested solutions remain similar to those faced by disabled artists and organisations today. But the key takeaway is still this – by removing systemic barriers and attitudes disabled people face and putting investment and access in place, we create economic, health and creative opportunities that build an inclusive creative sector that benefits everyone.
We appreciate your careful consideration of these priority areas.
Team DaDa
