As the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said earlier this year, the UK's cultural industry is “the beating heart of this country”. Our talent and flair for innovation has made the UK one of the world's most influential cultural markets, contributing well over a £100 billion to the economy in 2018 alone, as well as providing unique opportunities for community cohesion and diversity and attracting world-leading talent and tourists from around the world.

However, COVID-19, Brexit and other challenges all present vast challenges to the creative industries, and the visual arts in particular. As the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee noted in their July report, the sector will also require a “sector-specific recovery deal that includes continued workforce support measures, including enhanced measures for freelancers and small companies”.

With this in mind, Policy Connect, the All-Party Design and Innovation Group, and the Contemporary Visual Arts Network are delighted to invite you the launch of our latest report, which provides practical recommendations for how Government can effectively measure and enable growth in the visual arts as part of building back the economy.

The report also sets out recommendations for the tax and immigration systems to build talent and support this unique sector so that the visual arts can deliver on the government's ambition for a high-growth sector that contributes to national well-being and community engagement.

We are delighted that the report will be launched with the support of Ed Vaizey, Lord Vaizey of Didcot.

Prior to entering the House of Lords earlier this year, Ed represented Wantage as Member of Parliament between 2005 and 2019. During this time, he served as the longest serving Minister of Culture in history from 2010 until 2016. Since leaving office, he has continued to support the creative industries at the highest level, with “The Vaizey View” newsletter and podcast being one of the most influential insider news sources for the sector. This report launch offers a unique opportunity to hear from the writers of the report first hand, as well as to hear how policy makers can make the recommendations a reality. It will also offer attendees the change to discuss the report’s findings and discuss next steps. I hope that you can join us for this timely and important contribution to the creative industries at this vital time for the sector.

Joining details will be circulated to attendees a few days prior to the launch.

If you would like to submit questions in advance, please send them to jack.tindale@policyconnect.org.uk.

Visual Arts: The Beating Heart and Soul of Building Back Better