Earlier this month the Warwick Commission published a report on the future of cultural value. While we recommend reading it, one of our researchers has summarised key points from the report for you:

The commission has conducted a 12 month inquiry into how Britain can secure greater value from its cultural and creative assets. It has reviewed a wide range of inputs and analysis, including:

  • Evidence and testimony from over 200 individuals from across the arts, culture and heritage sectors, the creative industries, organisations responsible for arts development and training, government bodies and academics.
  • Insights from those knowledgeable about culture: those who make, market, consume, teach, learn, and enjoy art.
  • Four Commissioner evidence days, which explored themes including education and talent, and valuing and investing in culture.
  • Three high-profile public debates, including contributions from Robert Peston, Sir John Sorrell, Graham Sheffield CBE and Munira Mirza, amongst others.
  • Targeted evidence and research reviews from key staff across the University of Warwick

In her foreword Vikki Heywood CBE states:

“The key message from this report is that the government and the Cultural and Creative Industries need to take a united and coherent approach that guarantees equal access for everyone to a rich cultural education and the opportunity to live a creative life. There are barriers and inequalities in Britain today that prevent this from being a universal human right. This is bad for business and bad for society.”

She states that while focussing on the evidence three insights came to the fore:

  1. The extraordinary cultural and creative talents we share contribute to the well-being of our society, our economic success, our national identity, and to the UK’s global influence. These are precious returns, a powerful cocktail of public good and commercial return. They need to be recognised more fully, invested in more intelligently, and made available to all.
  2. Culture and creativity exist in a distinct ecosystem. They feed and depend on each other. The points of connection between the Cultural and Creative Industries are where the potential for greatest value creation resides – culturally, socially and economically.
  3. Insufficient attention has been paid to the synergies between the interlocking sectors of the Cultural and Creative Industries Ecosystem. There is already a flow of talent, ideas, and public and private investment across and between the Cultural and Creative Industries. This flow needs to now be better identified and encouraged.”

The report sets out 5 goals with several recommendations under each of them:

GOAL 1: A Cultural and Creative Ecosystem generating stronger cultural well-being and economic growth and opportunity for all citizens and communities.

Recommendations:

  1. Joined-up policy making
  2. Scaling investment
  3. Innovating for growth

GOAL 2: Production and consumption of culture and creativity should be enjoyed by the whole population and deliver the entitlement of all to a rich cultural and expressive life.

Recommendations:

  1. Building and measuring participation
  2. Diverse to the core
  3. Celebrating everyday arts and cultural participation
  4. Making culture persona

GOAL 3: A world-class creative and cultural education for all to ensure the well-being and creativity of the population as well as the future success of the Cultural and Creative Industries Ecosystem.

Recommendations:

  1. Consolidating our cultural and creative education
  2. Addressing children’s creative aspirations
  3. Underpinning graduate and skills pathways

GOAL 4: A thriving digital cultural sphere that is open and available to all.

Recommendations:

  1. Creating a digital public space
  2. Accelerating digital R&D

GOAL 5: A vibrant creative life at local and regional levels that reflects and enriches community expressions of identity, creativity and culture across the UK.

Recommendations:

  1. Fostering creative local growth
  2. Promoting regional equity