The Cultural Manifesto contains six key principles to ensure the Midlands retains and builds upon its status as a key cultural region.
The MU, along with the other entertainment unions and in conjunction with Midlands TUC, has produced a Culture Manifesto for the Midlands.
Its purpose is to raise the profile of culture in the region, and the contribution culture makes not just to the overall economy but to the well-being of our citizens.
The West Midlands is famous as the home of Shakespeare, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Birmingham Rep, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham & Solihull Jazz Festival, as well as our fantastic museums and art galleries.
The Manifesto aims to achieve a sustainable cultural economy and provide long term work opportunities for musicians and other associated workers.
Six principles of the Cultural Manifesto
It contains six key principles to ensure the Midlands retains and builds upon its status as a key cultural region:
- A Midlands film and television studio facility
- Trade union recognition and implementation of negotiated agreements as a condition of public funding
- An integrated local government policy framework to support live venues, festivals and street performers (including infrastructure, public transport, regulatory framework etc.)
- An increase in public spending on the arts in the Midlands until per capita regional arts spending is on a par with London
- Secure, properly paid, professional employment for cultural workers and arts educators
- Local control of all arts spending in the region (including Arts Council England)
The release of the Cultural Manifesto is timely given the upcoming Mayoral election for the West Midlands Combined Authority and the recently announced General Election.