Today I addressed a policy event on the future of arts and culture policy at the Soho Theatre.

In my speech, I stressed the importance of speaking up for the arts and remaking the argument for government support in difficult times, and the need to fight back against the cuts and forge a survival strategy for the arts, particularly through supporting our local councillors. You can read my speech in full here.

There were also policy sessions lead by Shadow Culture Minister, Dan Jarvis MP, on opportunities for young people in the arts (with Lord Wilf Stevenson, Labour spokesperson on business and culture in the Lords), on what the arts and culture provide for Britain (with Iain Wright MP, Shadow Enterprise Minister) and on arts and culture in the regions (with Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council and Labour’s lead on culture at the Local Government Association).

The event was chaired by David Lan, artistic director of the Young Vic and convenor of the What Next? group of arts leaders, and attended by leading figures from the arts world and culture leads in local government.