Jeremy Hunt MP

In the first of a series, NftU arts blogger, Michael Amherst, quizzes Conservative Shadow Culture Minister, Jeremy Hunt, on the Tories policies for the arts.
In the first of a series, NftU arts blogger, Michael Amherst, quizzes Conservative Shadow Culture Minister, Jeremy Hunt, on the Tories policies for the arts:

Should they be elected are the Tories:

1. Committed to maintaining free entry to galleries and museums?

Yes, absolutely.  This was one of Chris Smith’s best ideas, and would be maintained under a Conservative government.

2. Committed to government funding of the following projects: the extension of Tate Modern, the new exhibition centre at the British Museum, the new National Film Theatre on the South Bank and the British Library’s newspaper archive in Boston Spa?

Labour has made a complete mess of their capital funding projects.  First we heard that £100 million was available, then that it wasn’t, and now they have miraculously found the funds once more.  These are fantastic projects, and ones that we would hope to fund, but given the current economic climate and the he deficit that we face, it is difficult to make any firm commitment.  Our priority is to direct funding to where it belongs on the front line, whilst making savings in other areas.

3. Committed to an end to impartiality in broadcast news, as backed by David Cameron?

David Cameron hasn’t backed the end to impartiality in broadcast news. What we have said is that when internet television is commonplace it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask Telegraph TV or Guardian TV to follow rules laid out for broadcasters like the BBC and ITV. We support the impartiality requirements on our mainstream broadcasters.

4. Committed to maintaining the BBC through the license fee?

Yes.  We are supporters of the BBC and the principle of the licence fee.

Also, in response to Mr Hunt’s recent interviews and the publication of the Conservatives’ arts manifesto:

1. Will the Tories legislate to ensure that those who take advantage of the acceptance-in-lieu (of IHT) scheme are not rewarded with positions on boards and/or freebies from the benefitting arts organisation? If not, why not – when neither the option nor the reward would be available to lower rate tax payers?

I think we should do all we can to encourage people to give money to cultural organisations. Private giving shouldn’t be seen as something to be embarrassed about. There are checks and balances around who can get on to boards and I don’t intend to change these but if an organisation wants to say thank you to a donor however large or small the donation then I think they should be allowed to.

2. In relation to the encouragement of greater gifts and endowments, how will the Tories:

a) ensure that large donors do not attach strings to their donations or dictate artistic direction, as has been seen in the US?

I would like to see arts organisations free to make their own decisions in this respect. I am confident enough in their ability to run themselves that they would not allows this to become a problem. If they received public money then they will have to account for how they spent it so I don’t anticipate this becoming a problem.

b) protect the smaller, experimental organisations that do not have a team of fundraisers nor such wide appeal?

We believe in a mixed economy approach.   We want to ensure that arts organisations are as free as possible to raise their own funds, but at the same time we recognise the fact that not all arts organisations will, or indeed can.  Therefore we support continued state funding for arts organisations through the Arts Council and related non-departmental public bodies.  Our plans to reform the National Lottery will also ensure up to £40 million extra funding for the arts every year.

3. Are the proposed savings within Arts Council England within the 21% cut in its workforce already undertaken or in addition?

We have asked all Lottery distributors to cap administration costs at 5%, and we will push for all non-departmental public bodies to make their own savings in order that more funding can reach the front line where it belongs.  Some organisations have made a start on savings, which we welcome, but at a time when budgets are squeezed it is vital that the likes of Arts Council England do even more.