Increasing the Value of the Arts - A Guide to Advocacy
March, 2024
Arts Council Advocacy Cards
Keep up to date with the Arts Council's 'at a glance' key messages:
Gary Lightbody calls for increased public investment in the arts
Key facts about the arts to help you with your advocacy
- The arts bring people and communities closer together in shared experiences
- They help NI to promote our distinctive cultures in positive & inclusive ways
- The arts improve our sense of wellbeing and mental health. Arts Council funding is invested in many tailored projects where artists are helping improve outcomes for young people, marginalised communities and our older citizens
- The arts raise NI’s global reputation as a creative & progressive place; one that’s ready to compete and do business
- The Creative Industries are an exciting growing sector of the economy. Artists are their lifeblood and provide a creative pipeline to the Creative Industries
- The arts support the tourism industry by providing attractions and entertainment for visitors
- The arts are major contributors to the night-time economy, eg., with theatre and concert-goers also spending in surrounding restaurants, cafes and bars.
The arts need government to increase its investment in order to:
- Enable all people and all communities to enjoy the benefits of accessing and participating in arts and creativity.
- Reverse the decline and restore stability in this important sector. The 2022-23 General Population Survey in NI found that 79% of people agreed that there should be public investment in arts and cultural organisations
- Provide a basic level of support and opportunities available to artists in the rest of the UK and RoI
- Ensure that everyone in NI enjoys their universal human right to participate in all forms of cultural life (Article 27 UDHR)
- Stimulate growth, development and innovation. The NI arts sector creates jobs, generates income, brings visitors to NI, contributes to bringing people and communities together
- Release Lottery funds for their original intended purpose (including: developing new audiences and engaging with marginalised groups.)
- Improve regional distribution of funding through shared initiatives with local authorities
- NI is losing the artists and the creative skills needed to keep our arts and culture growing.
- There is a significant talent drain from NI in terms of artists and skills. Creative people are leaving the sector altogether or looking elsewhere to make a living in arts and culture.
- None of the many national and international successes enjoyed by NI artists and arts organisations happens by accident. It is the result of years of painstaking development, of careful and thoughtful investment by the Arts Council in the talent pipeline. Continuing structural underinvestment risks undoing years of work.
- 79% of people agreed it is right that there should be public investment in arts and culture organisations.
- 70% said they believed it is right that there should be public investment in individual artists.
- 58% would vote for a political candidate who advocated increased spending on arts and culture
- 87% said the arts play a significant role/ play a role in educational attainment.
- 86% agreed that the arts create jobs in Northern Ireland.
- 86% strongly agreed that the arts bring tourists to Northern Ireland.
Source: General Population Survey 2022-23 | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)
Working with politicians
The Arts Council targets key stakeholders, including MLAs at the Northern Ireland Assembly, MPs at Westminster, civil servants and government departments. If you are contacting your local politicians, including local government councillors, please do let us know. It will help us to stay informed and we may even be able to amplify your activity. Drop us an email at: [email protected].
All politicians have influence that they can use in government. If you don’t already have a relationship with your local councillors / MLAs / MPs, cultivate their support as soon as possible. Bear in mind that they receive a great many appeals for support and have a limited amount of time, so be concise.
A little research goes a long way! It will help you if you know who your local politicians are and what their interests are. You can research their memberships of relevant committees at Stormont or at Westminster and find out if they have asked relevant questions.
NI Assembly: The Northern Ireland Assembly (niassembly.gov.uk)
Houses of Parliament: UK Parliament
Local Government: District Councils
It will strengthen your case if you can link your work to the stated priorities of Government.
The NI Assembly publishes a ‘Programme for Government’, which sets out the Assembly’s priorities. The draft Programme for Government 2024-27, 'Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most', lists three key missions:
- People: Working to support everyone at all stages of their life to ensure they have the chance to succeed by improving life opportunities.
- Planet: Harnessing the potential of a green growth economy while ensuring we provide an equitable transition to a sustainable and affordable society as we take responsibility for decarbonising our economy and society.
- Prosperity: Improving our economic productivity while making sure that we have an economy that works for everyone and our story continues to be an inspiration to others.
(February 2025)
THE NORTHERN IRELAND EXECUTIVE
First Minister: Michelle O’Neill MLA, Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster
Deputy First Minister: Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, DUP, Lagan Valley
Junior Minister: Aisling Reilly MLA, Sinn Féin, West Belfast
Junior Minister: Pam Cameron MLA, DUP, South Antrim
Speaker of the House: Edwin Poots MLA, DUP South Belfast
Deputy Speaker: John Blair MLA, Alliance,
Deputy Speaker: Steve Aiken MLA, UUP, South Antrim
Deputy Speaker: Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, Sinn Féin, North Belfast
Minister for Communities: Gordon Lyons MLA, DUP East Antrim
Justice Minister: Naomi Long MLA, AP East Belfast
Economy Minister: Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, SF East Londonderry
Finance Minister: John O'Dowd MLA, SF Upper Bann
Education Minister: Paul Givan MLA, DUP Lagan Valley
Health Minister: Mike Nesbitt MLA, UU Strangford
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister: Andrew Muir MLA, AP North Down
Infrastructure Minister: Liz Kimmins MLA, SF Newry & Armagh
Leader of the Opposition: Matthew O’Toole MLA, SDLP, South Belfast
Communities Committee
Chairperson: Mr Colm Gildernew MLA, Sinn Féin, Fermanagh & South Tryone
Deputy Chairperson: Nicola Brogan MLA, Sinn Féin, West Tyrone
Andy Allen MLA, UUP, East Belfast
Kellie Armstrong MLA, AP, Strangford
Maurice Bradley MLA, DUP, East Londonderry
Brian Kingston MLA, DUP, North Belfast
Daniel McCrossan MLA, SDLP, West Tyrone
Maoliosa McHugh MLA, SF, West Tyrone
Sian Mulholland MLA, AP, North Antrim
Committee Clerk: Emer Boyle
All Party Group on the Arts
The purpose of the All Party Group on the Arts is to provide a forum for All Party discussion and debate on the arts, to increase the understanding, visibility of arts in government and raise profile of relevant issues
Sian Mulholland MLA, Alliance, North Antrim (Chair)
Claire Sugden MLA, Independent, East Londonderry (Vice Chair)
Kellie Armstrong MLA, Alliance, Strangford
Danny Donnelly MLA, Alliance, East Antrim
Maoliosa McHugh MLA, Sinn Féin, West Tyrone
Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, Sinn Féin, North Belfast
Paula Bradshaw MLA, Alliance, South Belfast
Nuala McAllister MLA Alliance, North Belfast
John Blair MLA, Alliance, South Antrim
Matthew O’Toole MLA, SDLP, South Belfast
Mark Durkan MLA, SDLP, Foyle
Diane Forsythe MLA, DUP, South Down
Paul Frew MLA, DUP, North Antrim
Kate Nicholl MLA, Alliance, South Belfast