Bill Macnaught

ChairAdvisory Council on Libraries

Culture

A personal perspective on the

Government’s view of culture

Who is responsible?

• The Department for Culture, Media and Sport – DCMS

• Secretary of State – Tessa Jowell

What is the DCMS definition of 'culture'?

There is no official government definition of

'culture'. However Guidance on Integrating

Cultural and Community Strategies  refers to: 

"the widely established two-part definition or

understanding of culture set out in Creating

Opportunities (DCMS, 2000)"

“Culture is seen as having a material dimension encompassing the following types of activities - an illustrative, rather than exhaustive, listing. It includes…

the performing and visual arts craft fashion media film, television and video language museums artefacts archives design libraries literature, writing and publishing the built heritage architecture landscape archaeology sports events facilities development parks open spaces wildlife habitats water environment countryside recreation children's play playgrounds play activities tourism festivals attractions informal leisure pursuits

Culture also has a value dimension and is about:

•relationships between individuals and groups

•shared memories, experience and identity

•diverse cultural, faith and historic backgrounds

•social standards, values and norms

•what we consider valuable to pass on to future generations."

DCMS – what does it do?

“We aim to improve the quality of life for all

through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. Our vision is to extend excellence and improve access in all our many sectors.”    

“It has been said that art is what anyone who calls themselves an artist produces, and the definition at least does not suffer from being exclusive. But when government spends the nation’s marginal income – taxation – on “culture” in the sense that I have indicated, it cannot avoid, whether by delegating the task to quangos or making direct decisions, the making of value judgements.”

Tessa Jowell: ‘Government and the Value of Culture’, May 2004

“When we undertake policies in Government, the first thing we do is look at the evidence. We might engage focus groups or undertake market research to tell us what the view of people is. In terms of the intrinsic value of culture, in the lives of citizens, I’m not sure we need it.”

Tessa Jowell, May 2004

“…politicians have enough reasons to support culture on its own merits to stop apologising for it by speaking only of it in terms of other agendas. Yes, we will need to keep proving that engagement with culture can improve educational attainment, and can help reduce crime. But we should also stand up for what culture can do for individuals in a way that nothing else can.”

Tessa Jowell, May 2004

“Culture alone can give people the means better to understand and engage with life, and as such is a key part in reducing inequality of opportunity, and which can help us slay the sixth giant of modern times – poverty of aspiration. This must be the next priority in the mission at the core of this Government: to transform our society into a place … where individuals can fulfil their true potential.”

Tessa Jowell, May 2004

“We need Music Education in schools... We need the mechanisms in place so that a child with a talent will be able to take that talent as far as they wish to go, bounded only by the limits of that talent, and not constrained by their social and economic circumstances. … only by accepting that it is a child’s right to be given the means by which to engage with culture will we be able to move forward.

By accepting culture is an important investment in personal social capital we begin to justify that investment on culture’s own terms.”

Tessa Jowell, May 2004

‘Government and the Value of Culture’

(a) Is my analysis of the intrinsic value of culture correct?

(b) Is there any value in saying it? Or should politicians just keep quiet?

(c) How, in going beyond targets, can we best capture the value of culture?

(d)Do we underpin targets with something else – longer term funding agreements underpinned by a lighter touch but more intelligent review that focuses on cultural outcomes?

(e) How can we achieve this? Tessa Jowell, May 2004

Cultural Pathfinders

“Thirteen local authorities have been chosen by the Government to be Cultural Pathfinders, showing how culture and sport can help deliver Government priorities across public life.”• Show how culture can contribute to other Government

work at local level in the fields of healthy living, community safety and social cohesion,

• Use culture and sport in new and experimental ways to help build sustainable communities, and

• Test new and innovative ideas at local level, and share best practice with other authorities.

DCMS press release Feb 2005

Shared priorities• Raising standards across our schools

• Improving the quality of life of children, young people, families at risk and older people

• Promoting healthier communities by targeting key local services

• Creating safer and stronger communities

• Transforming our local environment

• Meeting transport needs more effectively

• Promoting the economic vitality of localities

www.culture.gov.uk

Culture led urban regeneration

Gateshead Millennium Bridge

Baltic Flour Mills

Gateshead Quays

Started BALTIC in 1992

Gateshead Millennium Bridge 2000

BALTIC opened in 2002

The Sage Gateshead 2004

Private sector developments

£1,000 million investment in total

ExploreMusic• Free internet access; Sibelius music composition

software; study desks, with power for laptop use• Access to specialist music websites including Grove

Online; music books, magazines and newspapers • A comprehensive 'what’s on’ listing of music events,

large and small, across the North East • Up-to-date information about music courses, tutors,

venues, instrument repair shops and more from across the region

• Listening posts – providing access to CDs linked to performances in the concert halls

Gateshead links

www.gateshead.gov.ukwww.asaplive.com/ExploreMusic/

Home.cfmwww.thesagegateshead.org

Conclusion

• Still confusion when Government and others use the word ‘culture’

• Wide ranging definition• Access and excellence• Intrinsic and instrumental• Growing recognition of the value of

culture in local and central government

“Culture is what we do- not to live –

but to feel alive”

Francois Matarasso