As we all know, tough decisions are being made about public services. The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is the UK’s only independent lobbying organisation representing all the arts. It’s running a campaign ‘I Value The Arts’ after being approached by members who were concerned that the public had no way to make their views on support for the arts heard.

Background to NCA
It provides a voice for the arts world in all its diversity. It seeks to safeguard, promote and develop the arts and win public and political recognition for the importance of the arts as a key element in our national culture. The organisation has three objectives:

• Provide a united voice for the arts, especially for arts organisations across the UK and for all artists, staff and volunteers who work in the arts.

• Campaign for better access to the arts, so that everyone in the UK has opportunities to experience the arts and to take part.

• Campaign for adequate and sustainable levels of resources and support for the arts.

Using volunteer time and skills from their campaign partners (and not public subsidy) they have sought advice about the best way to reach as many people as possible who care about the arts throughout the UK. We all know that there are lots of us out there: it’s estimated that three-quarters of adults and even more children take part in the arts every year. Collectively we will be a powerful new voice for audiences and participants.

NCA wants to be able to help to provide support for the arts in our area. That support could be about volunteering or lobbying or even setting up programmes of arts activities. They’d also like to listen to us and our views to help them prioritise future work.

There’s no time limit on the campaign. NCA hopes it will develop and evolve over time.

So, if you care about the arts (and we at Swindon Does Arts know you do!), please do take the 30 seconds it takes to sign up. You’ll be in good company.

http://www.ivaluethearts.org.uk/