A think-tank report said that the arts should be funded because of their cultural contribution to society, rather than because they delivered government policies such as economic development, tourism or social inclusion.
Source: John Holden, Capturing Cultural Value: How culture has become a tool of government policy, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (pdf) | Demos press release
Date: 2004-Dec
The Welsh Assembly government published a strategy for promoting creative industries in Wales.
Source: Creative Success: A strategy for the creative industries in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its Autumn Performance Report for 2004, setting out progress against public service agreement targets.
Source: DCMS Autumn Performance Report: Achievement against public service agreement targets 2002, Cm 6435, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
An independent commission on cultural activities in Scotland produced an interim report. (It was tasked with making recommendations on the development of arts and culture, aiming to promote much wider access, excellence and building on the nation's reputation for creativity.)
Source: Interim Report, Cultural Commission (0131 315 0262)
Links: Interim report (pdf) | SE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Nov
An article looked at the contribution creative industries made to the economy between 1992 and 2002. Gross value added for the creative sector grew by 93.2 per cent, compared with a growth in GVA for the whole economy of 69.6 per cent.
Source: Sanjiv Mahajan, 'Input output analyses: creative sector, 1992 2002', Economic Trends, October 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2004-Oct
A review examined research evidence in the fields of culture, arts and sport policy - in particular, research that focused on the benefits of participation; the under-representation of different groups in culture, arts and sport; and the social and economic impact of participation in such activities, and the hosting of major events, on individuals and communities.
Source: Janet Ruiz, A Literature Review of the Evidence Base for Culture, the Arts and Sport Policy, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Aug
A report set out recommendations to the government on developing a performance profile for local authority cultural services, aimed at helping to demonstrate the contribution that cultural services made to cultural, social, economic and environmental objectives.
Source: Angela Watson and Yvonne Barker, Developing a Performance Profile for Local Authority Cultural Services, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Aug
A government consultation paper assessed the economic and social benefits of cultural regeneration, and posed a series of questions designed to build up the body of evidence on the issue.
Source: Culture at the Heart of Regeneration, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200) | The Contribution of Culture to Regeneration in the UK: A review of evidence, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Evidence paper (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
A report accused successive governments of failing to acknowledge the important contributions made by the arts, humanities, and social sciences to national life.
Source: 'That Full Complement of Riches': The contributions of the arts, humanities and social sciences to the nation's wealth, British Academy (020 7969 5200)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
A 'personal essay' by the Secretary of State for Culture examined the relationship between government and the cultural sector. It set out a case for continued public subsidy for the arts, and urged government to view culture as at the heart, not the periphery, of its policies.
Source: Tessa Jowell MP, Government and the Value of Culture, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
A new book argued that the arts could no longer rely on advocacy but should begin to develop a robust evidence base that underpinned the unique contribution that the arts could make to society.
Source: Jamie Cowling (ed.), For Art's Sake: Society and arts in the 21st century, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its annual report for 2003-04, showing progress against performance targets.
Source: Annual Report 2004, Cm 6220, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf links)
Date: 2004-Apr
The Scottish Executive published a statement on its policy for promoting cultural activity. It said that there was a need for a new cultural vision for Scotland, and a radically different way of delivering and sustaining its cultural services.
Source: Cultural Policy Statement, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Statement | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Apr
The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on a plan for promoting creativity across a wide range of fields including education, lifelong learning, the arts, the creative industries, and business.
Source: Unlocking Creativity: A creative region, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9025 8975), Department of Education, Department for Employment and Learning, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and Invest NI
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
The Department published its autumn 2003 performance report, showing progress against public service agreement targets.
Source: DCMS Autumn Performance Report: Achievement against public service agreement targets 2002, Cm 6095, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
A report highlighted the contribution of local authority cultural services to meeting multiple needs of a diverse range of communities.
Source: Cultural Services and the Shared Priorities, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Jan
The government began consultation on the first draft of guidance for local authorities about ways in which local cultural and leisure services could contribute to the process of developing local authority community strategies. The draft guidance built on the experience of local authorities which had developed local cultural strategies.
Source: Guidance on Integrating Cultural and Community Strategies: Consultation draft 1, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan