With the nation going to the polls this week, 76% of adults would like to see the next Government do more to support arts and culture in Britain – with a specific focus on young people, a democratisation of access and more music lessons in primary schools seen to be key priorities, according to new research from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).

The new nationally representative poll asked 2,090 adults what they would like to see the next Government doing to back the arts in Britain after July 4th. The top 10 initiatives people would like the new Government to support are:

1. To make the Arts more accessible to young people from all backgrounds (24%).
2. More grants and scholarships for talented young artists (23%).
3. Increased Arts funding for state schools (22%).
4. More funding for music and singing lessons in primary schools across the UK (21%).
5. To further reduce the rate of VAT on tickets for concerts (21%).
6. More support for Arts organisations that work with schools and have active community programmes (20%).
7. More levelling-up funds to support regional venues, arts centres and arts projects across the UK (18%).
8. Greater support for grassroots and mid-size music venues (17%).
9. An increase in Government funding for the Arts Council (15%).
10. Prioritising music and creative subjects as being important in schools and colleges, versus the current focus on sciences (15%).

The RPO research indicated that the public’s eagerness for the next Government to do more to support arts and culture was evenly felt across all UK regions [see table 2 in notes to editors].

Further, when looking specifically at today’s audience for orchestral music , people new to the genre and starting their journey of discovery were as likely as long-term music enthusiasts to believe the next Government should do more to support the arts in Britain.

With a General Election called for 4 July, which of the following would people like to see the next Government do in terms of doing more to support The Arts in Britain?

Huw Davies, Deputy Managing Director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra commented: “For years, many performing arts organisations have felt the squeeze on funding, yet arts and culture remain  one of the UK’s greatest economic exports to the world. Many orchestras today are working hard to engender diversity in their ensembles, yet this is always going to be challenging if children from diverse backgrounds don’t have access to the same opportunities to learn music at school. What is evident from our latest poll is that the British public places  significant value on arts and culture in Britain and, regardless of who wins the General Election, people want to see the next Government do more to support arts and culture across the board: more support for small venues, more investment in music in state schools – and greater support for organisations like the RPO that run ground-breaking education and community programmes – initiatives that support inclusion, diversity and the cultural enrichment of the communities in which we are active.”

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:

Guy Bellamy elephant communications: Tel - 07766 775216

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