Jeremy Corbyn was joined by a host of music, film and theatre stars in London on Sunday night to launch Labour’s new charter for the arts. Corbyn commited to putting support for the arts at “the heart of Government” promising £1bn of new investment in a renewed Cultural Strategy.
Labour’s ‘Arts for All’ policy charter will set out a comprehensive programme of support for Britain’s arts and culture sector, promising to radically expand access and increase funding for the arts.
Jeremy Corbyn was supported at the Theatre Royal Stratford East by Emeli Sandé, Mark Rylance, Lily Allen, MIA, Clean Bandit and Ken Loach alongside an array of special guests.
Grime4Corbyn
The event also marked the return of #Grime4Corbyn, with the grassroots campaign being relaunched with the addition of all new musicians including some of the genre’s biggest stars.
The likes of Manga Saint Hilar, Sharky Major, Drifter, Saskilla, Durrty Goodz, Bruza, Scrufizzer, Lioness, Jamakabi, Nasty Jack, Ten Dixon, Lady Shocker and Taliifah have already been announced as partacing in the campaign, with more special guests expected at the official launch on Friday.
Labour’s new charter for the arts sets out ambitious plans to:
- Invest £1billion to transform the UK’s cultural landscape by upgrading and building new libraries, museums, galleries and arts venues across the country
- Invest £175 million a year in an arts pupil premium to give every primary school student in the country access to creative and cultural experiences
- Launch a new ‘Town of Culture’ competition
- Invest £1 billion in Youth Services
- Maintain free access to national museums and galleries
- Introduce greater transparency in lottery funding and ensure grants are shared out fairly between all our communities
Research by the House of Commons library has shown that libraries, museums and art galleries across England have had their funding slashed by at least £640m since 2010.
Jeremy Corbyn
“The arts are a common inheritance that make our society culturally richer and put a smile on all our faces. We must cherish them and protect them. Labour’s national strategy for the arts will embrace our rich cultural heritage from William Shakespeare to Ben Okri, Mary Quant to Tim Berners-Lee, delivering a national cultural renaissance. The Government I lead will ensure that every child has the opportunity to access the arts, learn a musical instrument and develop their creativity. Proper funding for the arts will be central to Labour’s commitment in Government to enable people to lead more enjoyable and fulfilling lives”
Emeli Sandé
“The arts are so important to our culture, our identity and our communities. Every child, whatever their background, should be able to enjoy the fundamentals in life and the access to the arts is crucial to that. I’m proud to give my support to the pledge to give every child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and develop their creativity.”
Mark Rylance
“I’m really thrilled by this new Charter for the Arts that Jeremy Corbyn has announced. From my experience, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell clearly love the arts and are moved by the arts. Jeremy Corbyn means what he says when he wants things to be fairer in our society and his love of Shakespeare is very encouraging.”
Lily Allen
“The idea that we’ll have access to more galleries and theatres and that children will be able to learn a musical instrument is crucial. The policies Jeremy Corbyn is setting out to achieve it are huge. This new Charter for the Arts is just amazing. I back it one hundred per cent.”
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