Our sector’s response to the government’s Industrial Strategy
The government is calling for responses to its recently published green paper for a 10-year Industrial Strategy which outlines how they plan to support businesses and future growth. The creative industries has been highlighted as an important ‘growth driving sector’ within the green paper. A collaborative response to the consultation from several organisations including CVAN England, a-n, The Association of Photographers, and the Design and Artists Copyright Society has been submitted to government, and the full strategy will be published in Spring 2025. Key recommendations emphasise the visual arts’ critical economic, social, and cultural contributions.
The response identifies visual arts as a growth-driving sector. It highlights its unique strengths, such as its role in the UK’s global art market, significant GVA contributions, and soft power. However, it notes systemic challenges, including low fees and low pay for freelance artists, declining arts funding in real terms over the past decade, the economic impact of AI on visual artists’ ability to control and monetise their copyright-protected works, and the need for better data and sector definition.
Proposed solutions include:
- Establishing a Freelancer Commissioner.
- Improving contract and payment terms for freelancers.
- Expanding creative education.
- Enhancing investment in public and private funding streams.
The response advocates for policy reforms such as integrating creative subjects into the National Curriculum, adjusting tax reliefs to support visual arts organisations, and encouraging social impact investments. It also stresses innovation’s role, citing examples where digital technologies and collaborations have enhanced sector outputs.
The document underscores the interconnectedness of the commercial and not-for-profit visual arts sectors, advocating for holistic investment strategies to foster sustainable growth, inclusivity, and cultural resilience across the UK, including a greater depth of understanding of how the public sector is part of the growth economy.
Read the full response here