Spending cuts are very much on-trend these days. Very few people would deny that spending cuts are entirely necessary but there is a lot of arguments about  what spending should be cut and when.  As is to be expected in England the general consensus seems to be that as long as what ever happens isn’t in your backyard then those effected should stiffen their upper lips and carry on.  One thing that a lot of people agree on is that spending on the Arts should be cut before anything else. In fact many agree with the Government’s Arts spending cuts and a one in five believes that the Government should not fund the Visual Arts at all.

It’s hard to argue that a painting should be bought instead of a brain scanner but that doesn’t mean that the arts aren’t essential. If nothing else the arts employ thousands and bring millions of tourists to our shores. Media taunting events like the Turner Prize (surely an agent provocateur planted by anti-arts types) do the arts no favours but it’s not all that daft.

The Arts bring communities together and provide an outlet for adults and children alike. These are the very adults who are struggling financially and the very children who are due to inherit an economy destroyed by the greed and mistakes of the generation before them. Organisations like the Friends of Redbridge Drama Centre are trying to ensure that vital community focused initiatives remain open. Its a struggle however any many need to rely on the generosity of companies and private individuals.

It’s interesting to note that the UK spent $58bn on “defence” in 2009. Defence spending continues to soar around the world despite the global recession. The Arts are more likely to criticize the interests of the ruling elite than support them so perhaps we need them now more than ever.