Kevin Spacey on the value of UK creativity.

New Statesman. March 21 2009

This week’s New Statesman sees Old Vic Director Kevin Spacey argue passionately the case for sustained government investment in the arts in Britain.

He points not only to the positive cultural and social effects of a strong arts tradition but also “the economic successes of what is called show business”, and insists that arts and culture must be placed “at the heart” of governmental attempts for economic recovery.

“Those of us who make an argument for supporting the arts have not used the economic impact of arts and culture as the centrepiece of our appeals as much as we should”. Kevin Spacey

He warns against reducing investment in grassroots creative infrastructure and insists that if the creative industries are to continue to “lead the UK economy” then we must not allow the current economic downturn to cast arts and culture as “luxury items”. They are, instead, for Spacey, “a necessity in our lives, as individuals and as nations”.

“Relationships between business and the arts offer a real chance to achieve financial success – not only for each other, but also to generate income for the hotels, restaurants and countless other businesses that populate the neighbourhoods where cultural centres operate”. Kevin Spacey

Spacey ends by suggesting that the question is not ‘what can the economy do for the arts?’ but ‘what can the arts do for the economy?’ He answers his own question: “a good deal”. A good deal for the arts? It seems he’s thinking of a New Deal of the Mind without even knowing it.

Read the full articlehere

Pete Barrett

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