Contemporary UK cultural policy

Over the past decade, the government has constructed a highly interventionist relationship with the cultural sector. Practitioners in the cultural sector need to understand the political economy within which the cultural sector functions, not least if they are to operate strategically and effectively.

In this module you will explore the rationale of government funding to the cultural sector, the implementation of policies, through the workings of central and regional government agencies and local government, and their shaping of cultural provision.

Indicative content

This module introduces participants to political theory, and specifically examines:

• UK government and the devolved states - their remits, similarities and differences, and the role of central government - HM Treasury and other departments
• policy making processes - non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and their governance, public service agreements (PSAs), policy making and implementation
• Regionalisation - the English regions, NDPBs' regional representatives, Renaissance in the Regions, cultural consortiums, regional development agencies, government offices
• local government - how local authorities function, the political systems and influences from national government, definitions of culture used and the position of culture within the local authority
• communities - partnerships and representation, instrumentalism versus public value, community consultation.

Recommended reading

• Arts Council England (current), The arts debate.
  
• Arts Council England (2005). Arts Council England, report of the peer review. London, ACE and DCMS
• Birkin, N. (2005). 'Research on Arts and Culture in Scotland since 1995'. Arts Research Digest (Issue 35)
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport (1998). A New Cultural Framework. London, DCMS
• Freeman, C. and Gilchrist, K. (2004). Making life better. A guide to integrating culture with community planning. Guilford, Culture South East, East England Development Agency and the South East England Cultural Consortium
• Hill, S. (2007). 'Cultural Knowledge: Research on Arts and Culture in Wales. Literature Review'. Arts Research Digest (Issue 39)
• Holden, J. (2006). Local Authorities: A Change in the Cultural Climate. London, Demos
• Oakley, K. (2004). Developing the evidence base for support of cultural and creative activities in South East England. Guilford, SEEDA (South East England Development Agency)
• Regional Museums Task Force (2001). Renaissance in the Regions. London, Resource
  
• Selwood, S. ed. (2001). The UK Cultural Sector. London, Policy Studies Institute