Comment: Culture - it's good for your 'art

Tuesday 04 December 2018

How to make a whole island healthy, wealthy and wise?

According to Tom Dingle, Director of ArtHouse Jersey, keeping the island's cultural calendar abuzz is key to that. But with funding pressures across the whole sector, arts' ability to keep delivering value to the local economy and, crucially, to islanders' wellbeing is under threat.

His organisation recently received a £160,000 boost from the States, allowing ArtHouse Jersey to face the New Year with a "sustainable platform" - but beyond that the future is unknown. Calling for long-term support for the whole sector, he told Express why keeping culture alive in Jersey is more than just something 'nice' - it's good for the heart....

"It seems there’s growing recognition that the arts and culture are not 'nice to haves', but fundamental building blocks of a happier, wealthier, healthier society.

Video: ArtHouse's 2018 'showreel' of initiatives they've supported.

Last week, the government decided to increase ArtHouse Jersey’s core revenue funding for 2019, a step that is very welcome and is essential in addressing the funding crisis of the arts in Jersey.

The urgent need for funding has been made particularly clear in recent weeks with extensive media coverage, States Members asking questions in the Assembly, and a recently published independent review confirming the gross under-funding that has dogged the arts for many years. This investment is a big step in the right direction and the States should be applauded for having the farsightedness to support ArtHouse Jersey.

Research has demonstrated that the arts have positive benefits on health and wellbeing, can bring together diverse communities, offer opportunities to all sections of Jersey society and, through engagement in community events, improve the environment for our children and the next generation.

Pictured: ArtHouse supported Michael Pearce during the development of his debut movie, 'Beast.'

Our mission is to support artists from Jersey and across the world to create inspiring, high-quality work that connects with audiences to make a positive impact on our Island community, and we are proud of what we do. We’re perhaps most proud of the way the arts serve the Island beyond improving our cultural output, important as that might be.

A thriving artistic sector, given appropriate support, creates jobs, contributes to and helps diversify the economy. Further, it enables the island to develop a positive narrative about itself abroad and promotes Jersey as a location for innovative and inspiring cultural events which, in partnership with Visit Jersey, can help boost visitor numbers.

The funding that we have received is only for 2019. It does not guarantee our long term future. We will now get on with supporting the arts and continuing to build a strong case to government for sustained investment in the 2020-2023 Government Plan.

Pictured: The £160,000 ArtHouse received is not enough to guarantee their long-term future.

Should government confirm that we will be provided with an adequate level of core funding after 2019, we expect to be in position by 2022 to engage more than 80,000 people in high quality cultural activity and deliver over 20,000 hours of community outreach to those that need it most. Our capacity to work with artists would be tripled, and our financial viability assured through us generating additional revenue ourselves, which in the long-term will significantly reduce our reliance on government funding.

We know that taxpayers expect and deserve a return on their investment in the arts, and we are delighted that this initial funding puts us in a position to drive forward an innovative arts and cultural agenda that directly benefits the Island, both locally and internationally.

Thanks to this funding, we have a sustainable platform for 2019. Beyond that the future is unknown, but we are grateful to be in a position to continue with our work delivering a vibrant and inclusive cultural programme, and are in a position to effectively contribute to the development of a new island-wide cultural strategy. It is our sincere hope that the Opera House and Art Centre can say the same in the coming weeks."

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not Bailiwick Express.