Discuss Current Activity By Uk Local Authorities In Arts And Entertainments Provision

This essay will define UK Local Authorities and arts and entertainment, looking at current activity from 2, Local Authorities; Sheffield City Council and Waltham Forest Council. The essay will also discuss reasons why Local Authorities participate in arts and entertainment provision. I have chosen Sheffield and Waltham Forest as I have lived in both areas.

During 2007-2008, Arts Council England will be spending Ј1.6 billion of public money (up to Ј1.8 billion in 2010-2011, HM Treasury, 2007)) from Government and the National Lottery on supporting the art development in England. This money is available to all arts and entertainment companies, although many do not apply due to the time consuming, usually difficult process in applying for funding. Only 26% of companies actually receive any benefit at all as when applying the event must satisfy certain criteria which is usually set to them by Local Government, who base their policy on Arts Council England policies and agenda for 2006-08; who in turn base their policies on the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS, policies shown below), and finally Central Government.

- Taking part in the arts

- Children and young people

- The creative economy

- Vibrant communities

- Internationalism

- Celebrating diversity

(Arts Council, 2006)

As you will notice later in this essay, specific Local Authorities policies are very similar to those that are listed above.

There are a total of 410 Local Authorities of England and Wales which "employs over 2 million people and it is estimated that each Local Authority carries out over 700 different functions." (Local Government Association, 2006). UK Local Authorities primary objective is "endeavor to achieve the best outcomes for the local community having regard to the long term and cumulative effects of decisions." In seeking to achieve its primary objective, a Council must have regard to the following facilitating objectives:

(a) Promote the social, economic and environmental viability and sustainability of the municipal district;

(b) Ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively and services are provided in accordance with the Best Value Principles to best meet the needs of the local community;

(c) Improve the overall quality of life of people in the local community;

(d) Promote appropriate business and employment opportunities;

(e) Ensure that services and facilities provided by the Council are accessible and equitable;

(f) Ensure the equitable imposition of rates and charges;

(g) Ensure transparency and accountability in Council decision-making.

(Local Government Charter, 1989).

There is no current legislation for providing provision for the arts, although as this essay demonstrates, by making funding available can help satisfy the above objectives.

The majority of Local Councils have an Arts Development team, which is responsible for coordinating grant funding, activities, projects and events across the county. The programme is managed in conjunction with a range of partners including Arts Council England and the district councils. Brownlee (2007) states, "Alongside Arts Council England, Local Council is the most significant investor in the arts in this country".

Arts Council England works with Local Authorities, as support is essential to gaining funding and in many cases the delivery of arts provision. The partnership focuses upon three areas;

1. Strategic engagement that supports mutual aims with targeted resources in priority places

2. Ongoing support for networking, guidance on funding, information provision etc for all authorities in the region

3. Activity targeted at improvement in the context of the Local Government performance management framework

(Brownlee, 2007, p. 1)

Brownlee (2007) records that funding is not the only provision local authorities provide. The Arts Council England (2003) have developed 4 priorities on which they will work with Local Government in the coming years. By providing support and working closely with the arts can;

1. Boost a creative economy

2. Promote healthy communities

3. Create a sense of community in local neighbourhoods

4. Engage young people.

Arts and Entertainment, is described by the Economic Census (1997) as including a "wide range of establishments that operate facilities or provide services to meet varied cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests of their patrons". Arts and Entertainment falls within the Creative Industry Sector, which is the fastest growing source of new jobs in 2006. This industry sector accounts for 7.9% of the UK's GDP (gross domestic product - a way of measuring the national economy). Examples of companies that are in the arts and entertainment industry are; local amateur dramatic societies, museums and galleries. There are different classifications for arts and entertainment, with libraries and formal arts teaching being included by some Local Authorities and not others.

Waltham Forest Local Council (2006, p. 4) believes that "the arts make all the difference to how we feel, and the quality of our lives; taking part can improve physical health as well as mental well-being". For this very reason, Waltham Forest Council have adopted a number of strategies to improve local arts and entertainment provisions. With the use of primary research allows them to "find out what customers want from cultural services" (2006, p. 6). The techniques used were wide range including surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, public meetings and face-to-face interviews. Detailed analysed information foresaw a number of problems:

- One of the top concerns for children and young people is the lack of amenities.

- There is a need to involve disabled people in existing events and activities and