Why don't Conservatives get credit for culture funding? | Letter

Funding the arts has become a contentious issue in politics. Critics argue that Conservatives are often overlooked when it comes to receiving credit for their cultural investments, with many attributing this lack of recognition to the fact that the funding was provided during their government.

The reality is more complex. During the COVID-19 pandemic, culture was the only sector to receive its own bespoke rescue package, amounting to £2 billion and supporting over 5,000 organisations across the country. The government also directed billions into culture-led projects as part of levelling up initiatives in towns and borderlands.

For example, ambitious cultural projects such as Aviva Studios in Manchester, Bristol Beacon, and the V&A East in London have received significant funding. Additionally, film tax reliefs have been extended to include theatre, museums, and orchestras, further demonstrating the government's commitment to the arts.

However, when it comes to public recognition, culture leaders often fail to acknowledge the efforts of politicians from all parties who have supported their sector. This is partly due to a narrative that doesn't align with their worldview, causing many recipients to remain silent.

It's essential for the culture sector to engage with politicians and officials more actively, rather than relying on their discretion. By doing so, they can build trust and demonstrate appreciation for the funding they receive. Ultimately, it's up to them to follow the money and welcome attention from all parties, not just those who share their values.

As Neil Mendoza, a former commissioner for culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, notes, the lack of recognition is a self-inflicted wound that can only be addressed by changing one's own approach. By being more vocal and proactive in engaging with politicians, the culture sector can reap greater rewards from government funding and build a stronger case for itself.

come on people! let's not forget that govts provide funding to arts because they WANT to support it, not just because some party is in power. £2 billion during covid? that's like, a lot of cash! and what about all the projects that got funded before covid? let's give credit where credit is due

I think it's pretty clear that the whole "Conservatives getting overlooked" thing is just a total myth . I mean, come on, they're not exactly known for their love of arts and culture, right? And let's be real, most of those £2 billion COVID-19 bailout funds went to projects that were probably gonna happen anyway, not because the government had some hidden agenda to support one party over another .

I'm so sick of people always piling on the conservatives for cultural investments lol. Like, what's good is good, regardless of who was in office . The gov actually threw £2 billion at culture during covid, that's not small change . And they're still supporting arts projects left and right. We should be giving credit where credit is due, no matter the party . But honestly, culture leaders need to step up their game and stop being so quiet about it. They gotta engage with politicians, build trust, and show appreciation for the funding they get. Can't just rely on govies to throw money at them without a word .

I think it's pretty sad when we forget to thank the people who helped us out during tough times . The UK government did give us some serious cash to help the arts survive COVID-19, like £2 billion to support over 5k organizations . And let's be real, films and theaters are getting a boost with those film tax reliefs . But do we ever say thanks to the politicians who helped make it happen? Nope!

It's like they're expecting us to just magically appear and start giving them credit for our success . Newsflash: we need your support, and if you don't acknowledge it, we might as well be talking about invisible money .

I think it's time for culture leaders to take ownership of this and start being more open with their appreciation . We should all be grateful for the funding we get, regardless of who gave it to us . It's not about politics; it's about showing respect for each other's hard work .

I'm tellin' ya, back when I was young, arts funding was all about the government throwing a few quid our way, but it's not that black & white anymore . I mean, those Conservative governments might've gotten some credit for it, but let's be real, they're not the only ones who've been shovin' cash into culture .

I was thinkin', what about all them Brexit-billions that went towards arts projects? Like Aviva Studios in Manchester and Bristol Beacon? That's some serious dosh . And don't even get me started on film tax reliefs . But, you know, it's like... culture leaders are just a bit too polite for their own good .

I reckon they need to stop bein' so PC and start acknowledgin' those politicians who've supported 'em all these years . It's time for 'em to follow the money and shout about it from the rooftops ! Neil Mendoza is right, mate – it's a self-inflicted wound that can only be cured by changin' one's approach . Maybe then we'll get some real recognition for our cultural efforts .

I think this whole thing is about power dynamics . Like, who gets to decide what's cool and what's not? If you're only getting recognized by one party, it's like they're the only ones who matter. But let's be real, culture is a bipartisan issue . It's all about funding and policy decisions. The fact that the government threw £2 billion at culture during COVID is huge , but if we're not acknowledging the efforts of politicians from other parties too, it's like we're not playing fair .

I think what Neil Mendoza said makes sense - we need to change our approach and be more vocal about our funding. But I'd also say that we need to hold ourselves accountable for being proactive in engaging with politicians. It's easy to sit back and wait for recognition, but if we want more money and better policies, we need to fight for it . And let's not forget, this is about building trust - between the culture sector and politicians, and also within our own community . If we can do that, I think we'll see some real changes in how funding is allocated and recognized .

I think it's so unfair that arts folks are always expected to wait for their due credit , while politicians just smile & pretend like they're doing us a solid . Newsflash: culture is all about the people & communities involved - not just some faceless politician trying to look good . We need more transparency & acknowledgment from our leaders, period . It's time for arts leaders to take ownership of their success stories & not just rely on others to give them a shoutout . Let's make a change & create a more inclusive, equitable art world where everyone gets the recognition they deserve!

I'm underwhelmed by the arts' perpetual dependence on public handouts . While it's true that Conservatives have historically been overlooked when it comes to receiving credit for their cultural investments, I think we need to shift our focus away from party politics and toward a more nuanced discussion about the role of government funding in supporting the arts. The fact remains that the UK has invested significant amounts in culture-led projects during the pandemic, but it's high time for artists and culture leaders to take ownership of their success (and failures) . We need to see more transparency and accountability within the sector itself, rather than relying on politicians to do the heavy lifting . By taking a more proactive approach, we can build trust with government officials and reap greater rewards from these investments – it's time for the arts to step up and own their success !

I think its pretty interesting how people are always quick to bash conservatives but not necessarily give them credit when they're actually putting money into art & culture . I mean, £2 billion is a big chunk of change! And those cultural projects in Manchester, Bristol, and London? They're pretty cool if you ask me. But yeah, its probably about time for the arts sector to step up their game and be more vocal about the politicians who support them. Maybe then they'll get some more recognition

I mean, I feel like there's this assumption that Conservatives are always trying to screw over artists or whatever, but it's not that simple. I've been looking into this COVID-19 pandemic package, and £2 billion is no joke! That's like, a lot of money for theatre companies, orchestras, and museums. And have you seen some of the projects they funded? Aviva Studios in Manchester, Bristol Beacon... those are some big investments.

But yeah, I get it, culture leaders need to step up their game. They're not just relying on politicians to give them a nod, they need to be more proactive about engaging with them and showing appreciation for the funding. It's all about building trust, you know? And if they don't, they might as well just stay out of the spotlight.

I've seen this happen before, where someone gets funding from their government or whatever, but then they're always like "oh woe is me" when no one recognizes them. It's not that hard to be proactive, you know? Just follow the money and welcome some attention!

its like we all know govts give money 2 arts but ppl think its just libs who get all the credit lol. actually its complicated. COVID was unique in rescuing just culture and theres many examples of ambitious projects getting funding. its not just libs who are into arts. but still feels like we should be thanking govts for support too, even if we dont agree with them. gotta engage more w/ politicians & officials to get recognition & trust buildin