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| Blair plays down art funding fear | Blair plays down art funding fear |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister has sought to allay fears the government is planning to cut back subsidies for the arts. | The prime minister has sought to allay fears the government is planning to cut back subsidies for the arts. |
| Tony Blair used a speech at Tate Modern in London to praise the role of the arts in developing the UK economy. | Tony Blair used a speech at Tate Modern in London to praise the role of the arts in developing the UK economy. |
| The Tories say theatres and museums have been "robbed" of millions in lottery funding, while there are fears money will be diverted to the Olympics. | The Tories say theatres and museums have been "robbed" of millions in lottery funding, while there are fears money will be diverted to the Olympics. |
| But the prime minister insisted that he had "no intention" or resuming "boom and bust" funding in the arts. | But the prime minister insisted that he had "no intention" or resuming "boom and bust" funding in the arts. |
| Mr Blair said a country like Britain survives and prospers "based on the talent of its people". | Mr Blair said a country like Britain survives and prospers "based on the talent of its people". |
| "Modern goods and services require high value added input, some of it comes from technology or financial capital, both instantly transferable. | "Modern goods and services require high value added input, some of it comes from technology or financial capital, both instantly transferable. |
| "But much of it comes from people - their ability to innovate, to think anew, to be creative," he said. | "But much of it comes from people - their ability to innovate, to think anew, to be creative," he said. |
| We've avoided boom and bust in the economy, and we don't intend to resume it in arts and culture Tony Blair | We've avoided boom and bust in the economy, and we don't intend to resume it in arts and culture Tony Blair |
| Mr Blair said engagement with the arts helped that process: "Dynamism in arts and culture, therefore, creates dynamism in society." | Mr Blair said engagement with the arts helped that process: "Dynamism in arts and culture, therefore, creates dynamism in society." |
| And he also praised the role of the creative industry in contributing material benefits to the UK economy. | And he also praised the role of the creative industry in contributing material benefits to the UK economy. |
| "They now account for more than seven per cent of our economy - they're growing incidentally at five per cent per annum. They employ almost two million people. Exports from the arts sector contributed 13-billion pounds to the balance of trade in 2004," he said. | "They now account for more than seven per cent of our economy - they're growing incidentally at five per cent per annum. They employ almost two million people. Exports from the arts sector contributed 13-billion pounds to the balance of trade in 2004," he said. |
| 'Great pride' | 'Great pride' |
| Arts organisations and opposition parties have expressed concerns that following the government's comprehensive spending review later this year, subsidies will be cut. | Arts organisations and opposition parties have expressed concerns that following the government's comprehensive spending review later this year, subsidies will be cut. |
| There are also concerns that more lottery money will be diverted to pay for the Olympic Games, to be held in London in 2012. | There are also concerns that more lottery money will be diverted to pay for the Olympic Games, to be held in London in 2012. |
| "All of us in government take great pride in what has been achieved this past decade, we've avoided boom and bust in the economy, and we don't intend to resume it in arts and culture," he said. | "All of us in government take great pride in what has been achieved this past decade, we've avoided boom and bust in the economy, and we don't intend to resume it in arts and culture," he said. |
| It was the longest that any prime minister has ever spoken about culture and the arts Sir Nicholas Serota,Tate director | It was the longest that any prime minister has ever spoken about culture and the arts Sir Nicholas Serota,Tate director |
| But the Liberal Democrats spokesman, Don Foster, said that the arts were experiencing exactly that. | But the Liberal Democrats spokesman, Don Foster, said that the arts were experiencing exactly that. |
| "Labour's welcome early investment in the arts is now being eroded. The Arts Council grant was frozen last year and now further cuts are being considered," he said. | "Labour's welcome early investment in the arts is now being eroded. The Arts Council grant was frozen last year and now further cuts are being considered," he said. |
| "Gordon Brown promised to end boom and bust. Now he may be on the brink of its re-emergence - to the arts budget. | "Gordon Brown promised to end boom and bust. Now he may be on the brink of its re-emergence - to the arts budget. |
| "While core cuts will be deeply damaging, a further raid on lottery good causes would signal a double whammy," he added. | "While core cuts will be deeply damaging, a further raid on lottery good causes would signal a double whammy," he added. |
| But the managing director of London's Barbican Centre, Sir John Tusa, said the prime minister's comments gave some cause for hope. | But the managing director of London's Barbican Centre, Sir John Tusa, said the prime minister's comments gave some cause for hope. |
| "If that means there is at least level funding plus inflation for the arts world there will be a huge whoop of delight. | "If that means there is at least level funding plus inflation for the arts world there will be a huge whoop of delight. |
| "The government has been saying 2% cuts, 5% cuts, terrifying everybody, this looks rather more reassuring." | "The government has been saying 2% cuts, 5% cuts, terrifying everybody, this looks rather more reassuring." |
| Longest | Longest |
| The Conservatives claim there has been a £200m cut in funding for arts and heritage every year since 1997. | |
| The party's culture spokesman, Hugo Swire, said: "It is not enough for him to cite government spending when it has been his government that has robbed the arts and heritage of hundreds of millions of pounds every year by raiding the National Lottery. | The party's culture spokesman, Hugo Swire, said: "It is not enough for him to cite government spending when it has been his government that has robbed the arts and heritage of hundreds of millions of pounds every year by raiding the National Lottery. |
| Very little was said about participation, especially of children and young people in the arts - the people who will create the arts of the future Christina CokerChief executive of Youth Music | Very little was said about participation, especially of children and young people in the arts - the people who will create the arts of the future Christina CokerChief executive of Youth Music |
| "We have much to be proud of in Britain's artistic and cultural life, but the prime minister ought to come clean before he leaves office and admit that his treatment of Lottery funds since 1997 has denied the arts vital support." | "We have much to be proud of in Britain's artistic and cultural life, but the prime minister ought to come clean before he leaves office and admit that his treatment of Lottery funds since 1997 has denied the arts vital support." |
| Mr Blair's speech was welcomed by the director of the Tate, Sir Nicholas Serota, who said: "It was the longest that any prime minister has ever spoken about culture and the arts." | Mr Blair's speech was welcomed by the director of the Tate, Sir Nicholas Serota, who said: "It was the longest that any prime minister has ever spoken about culture and the arts." |
| But Christina Coker, chief executive of Youth Music, said: "I suppose what disappointed me was he talked a lot about people consuming the arts. | But Christina Coker, chief executive of Youth Music, said: "I suppose what disappointed me was he talked a lot about people consuming the arts. |
| "Having talked very early on in his speech about the potential in people, and talked about how access was so important, very little was said about participation, especially of children and young people in the arts - the people who will create the arts of the future." | "Having talked very early on in his speech about the potential in people, and talked about how access was so important, very little was said about participation, especially of children and young people in the arts - the people who will create the arts of the future." |