Challenges Facing the Arts in West Berkshire

Here in Newbury and across West Berkshire, we are fortunate to enjoy some of the finest arts and cultural venues anywhere in the country. Many of you will have experienced world‑class performances as part of the Newbury Spring Festival, visited the Base in Greenham, joined in workshops at City Art, or enjoyed unforgettable productions at the Watermill Theatre and the Corn Exchange and so many more. 

We are equally lucky to have an extraordinary network of local charities, community organisations, and cultural groups that enrich our lives throughout the year. From music and drama to dance, heritage, and visual arts, these organisations showcase the remarkable talent, passion, and creativity that thrive in our region. 

While these venues and events put the passion, talent, and community spirit of the constituency on full display, what they don’t show are the stark behind-the-scenes challenges facing those in the sector. From persistent funding cuts to rising operational costs, our beloved creative organisations are having to work even more creatively than usual to keep delivering the services so many of us appreciate. 

Many organisations in the sector rely heavily on volunteers, grants, and goodwill. City Arts, for example, depends on volunteers to run its popular courses, exhibitions, and community events. Likewise, the Corn Exchange will soon be opening the newly refurbished Old Library, a project which was only made possible by generous donations from the public.

Such examples can be found across the country due to declining investment in the arts. The UK’s creative industries are essential to our economy, generating over £126 billion each year and supporting more than 2.4 million jobs nationwide. And yet, national arts funding has been cut by 16% in real terms since 2017, with local authority spending on culture and leisure down by £2.3 billion since 2010. 

At the same time, schools across the UK have seen arts education squeezed. Research shows that 93% of state school students do not have access to the arts due to lack of funding. This risks entrenching inequality by making the arts exclusively accessible to those willing and able to pay for lessons outside of school. 

Local organisations like Good Vibes Music Academy in Newbury are pushing to tackle such inequalities locally. Through their School Music Investment Programme, they invest a percentage of money earned through private lessons back into schools to subsidise lessons for children in receipt of pupil premium grants. 

But while it is inspiring to see organisations and members of the public stepping up to fill the gaps, the sector shouldn’t have to rely on this to do their work. The arts are not a luxury. They are an important part of our culture and an essential tool for helping young people build confidence, empathy, and creativity.  

If we want a future where children can learn instruments, where local theatre continues to flourish, and where community arts remain accessible to all, then these organisations need to be valued and supported as essential parts of our local life.