16 February 2010
How culture plays its part
Merrick Cockell
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London boroughs are the largest funders of culture and sport in the capital, which has a key role in improving the quality of life, says Merrick Cockell.
There is no doubt that London is one of the world’s greatest cultural cities. The wealth and breadth of artistic and sporting activities are praised by residents and tourists alike.
What might not be as recognised is local government’s role in helping to provide that cultural richness. It is often forgotten that local councils are the capital’s largest funders of culture and sport.
Local government accounts for half of the £1bn of public funding invested in the capital every year, contributing hugely to the attractions and events which draw so many visitors and investment to our city.
As has been frequently discussed on these pages, the public sector faces a significant spending squeeze. In many budget discussions, I’m sure that culture and sport are being considered in the frontline for cuts.
In many ways, they are an easy target. But, like every other spending area, culture and sport must prove the value they offer to communities – and in part, this is what London Councils’ latest publication Playing their part sets out to do.
There are many arguments as to the value of culture. For local government, a key driver is the way in which cultural and sporting services contribute to residents’ happiness with their local area. Local authorities provide highly-valued local services – services which have been demonstrated to have a positive impact on broader outcomes within communities and on residents’ satisfaction with their area.
Nationally, there is a very strong correlation between levels of engagement with culture and sport – National Indicators 8, 9, 10 and 11, under the CAA – and overall satisfaction with a place in which to live – National Indicator 5. In London, this correlation is even stronger. But culture also plays a key role in providing affordable local services for those who are experiencing economic hardship – particularly in an economic downturn. Local parks, open spaces, leisure centres and arts facilities can do much to improve quality of life and wellbeing, while libraries deliver locally-based learning, training and ICT opportunities.
Engagement in culture and sport can be cost-effective ‘preventative medicine’, keeping our communities happy and healthy. There are also key economic arguments. London is estimated to have 32% of the nation’s creative sector workforce, making it one of the largest creative workforces of any city in the world. Culture is also the motivation for many visitors coming to London, driving tourism and the visitor economy.
As the world’s leading city destination, London received an estimated 26.6 million overnight visits during 2006. As business travel has decreased, London’s cultural offer has played a major role in helping increase the numbers of visitors to the UK during the global recession.
In the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, local government in the capital has a fantastic opportunity to showcase and promote our cultural offer, both to Londoners and the rest of the world.
Attention will turn not just to the capital’s many internationally-famous facilities, but also to our incredible local government-supported network of free festivals, parks, museums, arts centres and sporting events.
In London, we have been leading the way in showing how better and more efficient cultural services improve people’s lives. Funded by Capital Ambition, the London Cultural Improvement Programme is a partnership of the 33 authorities, regional cultural agencies – Arts Council England London, MLA London and Sport England London, Government Office for London and London Councils.
The partnership has already delivered real improvement and efficiencies in council services across the capital.
From being one of the poorest-performing regions for cultural services, there is now recognition, through CAA, that London boroughs are now the best in terms of achieving recognition for using culture and sports to deliver local outcomes, as well as improvement.
Particularly in the context of the challenges and opportunities of the 2012 games, this story of success will be challenged by the current and forthcoming changes to local government funding.
Councils in London need to work closely with regional and central government, and other cultural sector partners, in order to maintain the vibrant offer we have, that makes London the best place to live, work and visit.
Cllr Merrick Cockell is chairman of London Councils, and leader of Kensington and Chelsea RLBC
What might not be as recognised is local government’s role in helping to provide that cultural richness. It is often forgotten that local councils are the capital’s largest funders of culture and sport.
Local government accounts for half of the £1bn of public funding invested in the capital every year, contributing hugely to the attractions and events which draw so many visitors and investment to our city.
As has been frequently discussed on these pages, the public sector faces a significant spending squeeze. In many budget discussions, I’m sure that culture and sport are being considered in the frontline for cuts.
In many ways, they are an easy target. But, like every other spending area, culture and sport must prove the value they offer to communities – and in part, this is what London Councils’ latest publication Playing their part sets out to do.
There are many arguments as to the value of culture. For local government, a key driver is the way in which cultural and sporting services contribute to residents’ happiness with their local area. Local authorities provide highly-valued local services – services which have been demonstrated to have a positive impact on broader outcomes within communities and on residents’ satisfaction with their area.
Nationally, there is a very strong correlation between levels of engagement with culture and sport – National Indicators 8, 9, 10 and 11, under the CAA – and overall satisfaction with a place in which to live – National Indicator 5. In London, this correlation is even stronger. But culture also plays a key role in providing affordable local services for those who are experiencing economic hardship – particularly in an economic downturn. Local parks, open spaces, leisure centres and arts facilities can do much to improve quality of life and wellbeing, while libraries deliver locally-based learning, training and ICT opportunities.
Engagement in culture and sport can be cost-effective ‘preventative medicine’, keeping our communities happy and healthy. There are also key economic arguments. London is estimated to have 32% of the nation’s creative sector workforce, making it one of the largest creative workforces of any city in the world. Culture is also the motivation for many visitors coming to London, driving tourism and the visitor economy.
As the world’s leading city destination, London received an estimated 26.6 million overnight visits during 2006. As business travel has decreased, London’s cultural offer has played a major role in helping increase the numbers of visitors to the UK during the global recession.
In the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, local government in the capital has a fantastic opportunity to showcase and promote our cultural offer, both to Londoners and the rest of the world.
Attention will turn not just to the capital’s many internationally-famous facilities, but also to our incredible local government-supported network of free festivals, parks, museums, arts centres and sporting events.
In London, we have been leading the way in showing how better and more efficient cultural services improve people’s lives. Funded by Capital Ambition, the London Cultural Improvement Programme is a partnership of the 33 authorities, regional cultural agencies – Arts Council England London, MLA London and Sport England London, Government Office for London and London Councils.
The partnership has already delivered real improvement and efficiencies in council services across the capital.
From being one of the poorest-performing regions for cultural services, there is now recognition, through CAA, that London boroughs are now the best in terms of achieving recognition for using culture and sports to deliver local outcomes, as well as improvement.
Particularly in the context of the challenges and opportunities of the 2012 games, this story of success will be challenged by the current and forthcoming changes to local government funding.
Councils in London need to work closely with regional and central government, and other cultural sector partners, in order to maintain the vibrant offer we have, that makes London the best place to live, work and visit.
Cllr Merrick Cockell is chairman of London Councils, and leader of Kensington and Chelsea RLBC
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