‘Cuts to culture are a false economy’
Posted on Jan 22, 2017A £3.7m investment has been made by Hull’s local council towards the £5.2m refurbishment costs of their Ferens gallery.
The work was deemed necessary if it was to care for world class art. The gallery’s permanent collection includes works by Frans Hals, Canaletto, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Stanley Spencer and David Hockney.
Hull, like many other authorities, have had to make drastic cuts in spending due to major cuts to Central Government funding, but the council’s deputy leader defended their policy of maintaining arts, leisure and cultural spending. Hull sees the investment in culture as a boost to the economy. To cut the culture budget would be false economy.
At the relaunch of the Ferens, culture minister, Matt Hancock said, ‘All the evidence shows that investment in culture improves these places socially, it brings people together and it boosts the economy.’
Maybe Walsall council should take a leaf out of Hull council’s book.
(visit the Art UK website to find out about artwork and displays at the Ferens)
