Should the UK Government Bailout its Museums, Galleries, and Theatres?

This report presents a debate on the UK government's bailout of museums, galleries, and theatres, focusing on the £1.57 billion support package announced to aid the cultural sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report provides a brief background of the debate, emphasizing the importance of culture and heritage to the nation and its people. It then presents arguments in support of the government's bailout, highlighting the economic contribution of the arts sector, its role in enriching lives, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. The report references the financial impact of the cultural sector, the number of people employed, and the role of the government and local councils in maintaining cultural fabric. The conclusion supports the government's financial package, highlighting the benefits to the economy, employment, and cultural preservation. The report is supported by references to news articles and government announcements.

To bail out, or not bail
out?

Table of contents
 Brief background of debate
 Arguments for a government bailout for the UK’s museums,
galleries, and theatres (In support)
 Conclusion
 References

Brief background of debate
Culture and Heritage are the very important part of the nation as well as the people
and communities living in it. This presentation is based on a debate on the topic “To
bail out or not bail out?”. This debate is presented in the support of Government’s
support package for arts, culture and heritage sectors. It is in support of government
bailout for museums, galleries, and theatres of United Kingdom. This is discussed in
context of economic, social and cultural aspects with the purpose of recognising and
arguing the outlook of stakeholder that will be influenced.

Arguments for a government bailout for the UK’s
museums, galleries, and theatres (In support)
Heritage and culture are at the heart of people across the nation, enriching
lives of millions of individuals and the funding provided by the
government to this sector is testament to the role that cultural and heritage
sector plays in lives of people. 1.57 billion pounds funding provided by
the government will prioritise institutions of International and national
significance as well as those which are significant to the valuable cultural
fabric to communities and places and down the nation.

Continue…
Government recognises contribution the cultural and arts sector makes, not only to
International reputation and economy of United Kingdom, but also for the enrichment and
well-being of its individuals. This action of government was appreciated as in this incredibly
challenging time, there are various professionals and cultural organisations who are facing
uncertainty and difficult situations. Government of United Kingdom is very alert to this
problem and work towards finding out the solutions which support this sector as the
lockdown eases. Government announced 1.57 billion pounds support on 5th July for cultural
institutions in order to assist them through covid-19 pandemic.

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According to The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden and Department
for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, over 1300 cultural and
arts institutions are benefiting from 257 million pounds as
part of crucial financial boost from 1.57 billion pounds’
culture recovery fund from government. The organisations
which are applied for grants under 1 million pound were
informed of their awards through Arts Council England that
distributes fund on behalf of department for digital, culture,
media and sport.

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The arts and cultural heritage of United Kingdom are not just
beloved in the nation, but are envy of rest of the globe. The
museums, galleries, live music venues and theatres are
incredibly valuable to enhance the economic condition of
nation, bringing in around 32.3 billion pounds in year 2018
and employed around 680000 individuals. But, they are more
than that - they are linchpins of local communities, educating,
enlightening and entertaining people and bringing them
together by shared experiences.

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Because of covid-19 restrictions like social distancing, for the foreseeable
future, crowded venues are not possible. This clearly depicts that cultural
sector desperately required assistance to weather ongoing storm. An
unprecedented rescue package was provided by the government of 1.57
billion pounds for theatres, heritage sites, galleries, museums, independent
cinemas and music venues all across the nation inform of loans and
emergency grants (Cultural and heritage organisations to be protected with
£1.57 billion support package, 2020).

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An extra 188 million pounds are given to devolved
administrations in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, as
Government support the whole union to strengthen the culture
of the nation. On the top of the announcement, a broader
package comes to reopen project grants competition as well as
make an extra 39 million pounds of funding available in order
to support creativity - specifically from independent
organisations, creative practitioners and freelancers.

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The financial package announced by the government is the biggest package
which is an integral part of the history of nation and is fundamental to the
economy of United Kingdom. This was not the first thing that has made available
to the sectors by department, but there has already been around 215 million
pounds of emergency funds for heritage and cultural arm's length bodies, that
since lockdown initiated have been perform intensively with the industry in order
to understand the pressures and scale and put collectively this package, that has
enabled to deliver world class level support for valued sectors of the nation.

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Councils play significant role in maintaining cultural fabric of United
Kingdom. For running more than 3,000 libraries and over 350 public
archives, galleries, theatres and museums, they spent around 1.1 billion
pounds and are responsible for various historic buildings and monuments.
This highly contributes in enhancing the public health as well as educational
outcomes and can also contribute to cohesion in communities. This help in
attracting the visitors and tourists more which in turn improve the economy.

Conclusion
From the overall discussion, it can be concluded that the financial support package of 1.57
billion pounds announced by the government of United Kingdom for theatres, galleries and
museums is beneficial in improving the economy of the nation, improving lives of people
and communities of the country, providing them with employment opportunities which
help in improving their living standard. Apart from this, also help in protecting the cultural
heritage of the nation and attracting more people towards the destination. This package
enables to protect some precious cultural assets of nation during uncertain situation and
help thousands of institutions and organisations to make through it.

References
 U.K. Announces $2 Billion Bailout to Help Keep the Arts Afloat, 2020.
[Online]. Available through: <https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/arts/uk-
rescue-package.html>
 Government's billion-pound bail out to protect future of Britain's museums,
galleries and theatres, 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/governments-billion-
pound-bail-out-protect-future-britains-museums-galleries-and-theatres-
2904595>