Public Campaign For The Arts

Unless our government acts now, most of Britain’s theatres will be gone by the end of this year.

The Public Campaign for the Arts is made up of more than 60,000 members of the public who need them to survive.

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From your local music venue to the nation’s leading performance spaces, our whole arts and cultural landscape is on the brink of ruin.

The campaign aims to highlight what is at stake for the general public if the arts industry is not safeguarded from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The idea is to call attention to arguments that risk going unheard as the emphasis is often placed on the creative industries’ contribution to the UK economy (measured at £111.7bn in 2018). But Arts centres and theatres are often described as the hearts of the community – something priceless.

Dawn talks about “finding a family” at The Courtyard…

Why is this important?

The arts enable us to connect with ourselves, each other and the world. As well as providing entertainment and escapism, they play a vital role at the heart of communities across our country.

The arts enrich the mental health and social lives of millions of people all over the UK. Every year, around 34 million people go to the theatre.

The participatory and outreach work done by many arts organisations empowers people to develop creative skills, grow in confidence and collaborate.

There are also major economic benefits to the arts continuing to thrive. Before coronavirus, the UK’s Creative Industries contributed almost £13 million to the UK economy every hour. For every £1 spent at the theatre, £3 was spent on food, drink, accommodation and travel in the local area (significantly more  in the West End).

But these are just some of the reasons why it’s so vital that we rescue the arts. You will have your own – and Campaign for the Arts would love to hear them.

Please click below to tell your story about what the arts mean to you, and see what other people have said about what is at stake in this moment of crisis:

Visit the Public Campaign for the Arts Website

#ForTheArts

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