Call to back creative countryside
by WIN Admin — published in Press Releases
HARNESSING the untapped creative potential of the countryside could generate more than £1bn a year, says a report.
But the rural creative industries will remain worth just half the amount unless the government helps artists access adequate funding, it warns.
The four-year study was prepared by the Rural Cultural Forum, which brings together artists, community groups and other rural stakeholders.
A national rural cultural strategy would benefit rural communities and help to regenerate the countryside, says the 35-page document.
It would also help Britain’s recovery from recession and double the contribution made by the arts to the national economy.
The full report, Creative Rural Communities - Proposal for a Rural Cultural Strategy, can be downloaded http://tinyurl.com/ (5.8Mb pdf).
“Creative rural communities currently contribute over £500 million a year to the national creative economy,” said forum chairman Michael Hart.
But they suffered from unfair access to Lottery funding and other investment initiatives aimed primarily at urban artists and communities.
There was no reason why rural artists should be excluded from National Arts Lottery and Arts Council regeneration initiatives, said Mr Hart.
"With fair access, Britain's creative rural communities have the potential to generate over £1 billion per year for the national creative economy.”
The forum is calling on the government to set up rural schemes similar to existing urban cultural programmes and SeaChange initiatives.
"All that we asking for is a level playing field and an equal opportunity in terms of accessing existing cultural regeneration funding,” said Mr Hart.
Doing so would help artists contribute to the economic recovery, promote stronger rural communities and help improve the environment.
Source: Ruralcity Media