Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Supporting Excellence in the Arts - James Purnell welcomes McMaster report calling for new emphasis on quality, risk and innovation in UK culture
A policy review marking 'a real shift in how we view and talk about culture in this country' was published today by Culture Secretary James Purnell.
'Supporting Excellence in the Arts - From Measurement to Judgment' by Sir Brian McMaster sets out new ways to recognise and reward high-quality work in the arts and in museums and galleries, and place risk-taking and innovation at the centre of the funding framework for every cultural organisation, large and small.
Specific recommendations in the report include:
* that the board of every cultural organisation should contain at least two artists and or practitioners,
* that all publicly funded cultural organisations remove admission charges for everyone for one week each year to address the endemic 'it's not for me' syndrome, and
* that the ten most innovative cultural companies receive ten-year funding packages to support their ambition.
The Government has welcomed the report which also calls for a greater emphasis on diverse work that more fully represents Britain in the 21st century, and recommends a more extensive and strategic approach to touring work.
Sir Brian McMaster said:
"British society today is, I believe, the most exciting there has ever been. It has the potential to create the greatest art ever produced. We could even be on the verge of another Renaissance. So we should do all we can to make this happen. That means moving away from simplistic targets and recognising instead the profound value of art and culture in itself.
"I have found a hunger in the cultural sector for public funding to be more ambitious, and to lift the pressures that favour financial and artistic safety. My recommendations are founded on the simple belief that we have a genuine opportunity to build on our success so far and create some of the most exciting culture the world has ever seen."
Welcoming Sir Brian's report, James Purnell said:
"This report proposes how Government and cultural funding bodies can move from measurement to judgement.
"The time has come to reclaim the word 'excellence' from its historic and elitist context, and to accept that the highest quality and the broadest audience can go hand-in-hand. The very best art and culture can change people's lives, and everyone - regardless of their background or where they live - deserves the chance to experience the very best.
"So this report is a positive and exciting contribution to the future of arts and culture in the UK. I believe it could lead to a fundamental change in the way we view and talk about the arts in this country in the years to come. I warmly welcome it, and look forward to considering each of the recommendations in detail."
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