CVAN

Last week, CVAN and London Gallery Weekend, with the support of the Frieze Art Fair, hosted 30 curators to access the fair. It was an excellent opportunity for curators nationwide to meet commercial galleries and be introduced to new artists. The aim of the bursaries supported and in partnership with Frieze is to create networks and new opportunities for curators, mainly outside London. “An art fair can not be a success if it does not participate in the ecosystem”, Eva Langret, Frieze London artistic director. Fato? üstek gave us a tour of Frieze Sculpture. It was a great start to the day, hearing about how the sculptures are commissioned and the extensive curatorial research and development.

The delays to Arts Council England’s?NPO?investment programme are more than administrative—they carry real consequences for the visual arts sector?by 2029. As we look to a future shaped by devolution, funding infrastructure becomes more complex—and more critical. Investment decisions won’t just be about bricks and mortar; they must also consider the small, independent commissioning organisations and bespoke sector support bodies?at the centre of the?visual arts?ecology. These organisations are agile, deeply embedded in communities, and often overlooked. Without sustained investment, we risk losing not just spaces but the connective tissue of the visual arts. Devolution presents an opportunity to reimagine how funding flows from central government to regions and combined authorities. But it also requires clarity, equity, and a vision for a?whole?arts ecosystem. That’s why the role of Arts Council England remains vital—not just as a funder but as a steward of national infrastructure, diversity, and long-term cultural growth. Let’s ensure the next investment phase recognises the full spectrum of what the visual arts need to thrive. #ArtsFunding #VisualArts #ArtsCouncilEngland #Devolution #CulturalInfrastructure #CreativeEconomy #SupportTheArts

"Artists don't just reflect society- they reshape it"

A Human-Centred Approach to the Visual Arts ?? We need a policy shift Lisa Nandy’s speech reaffirmed what we in the visual arts sector know: culture is essential, not a luxury. She champions arts as a force for opportunity, inclusion, and national renewal, but we must ensure this belief translates into long-term structural change. The investment is welcomed and sustains capital of ￡85 million through the Creative Foundations Fund, and the Museums sector has had some major investment. The Secretary of State is genuine in approach and values. ?? What’s missing? ?? A recognition that investment in cultural infrastructure alone isn’t enough—we need support for artists, curators, educators, and cultural workers who sustain the sector. ?? A Treasury that understands the arts beyond economic growth outputs—they shape identity, education, and social cohesion. ?? A long-term investment strategy that stops the cycle of crisis funding and embeds the arts into industrial strategy, education, and public policy. The arts are not just buildings or institutions—they are people, relationships, and creativity. If we want to truly sustain the sector, we need a human-centred approach to policy. ?? How do we make this happen? We must inform Treasury, push for long-term investment, and ensure the visual arts are recognised as integral to society. This is the moment to act. The future of our sector depends on it. #VisualArts #CreativeIndustries #ArtsFunding #PolicyChange #CulturalStrategy https://lnkd.in/eTUNu4As

Congratulations to DCMS economist Harman Sagger for publishing Capital and Culture Capital. Excellent - one of the models demonstrates that attending museums, art galleries, and exhibitions every few months or more was associated with decreased dementia risk, valued at ￡369 per person and a society-wide benefit of ￡1.5 billion per year.??? ?????? ????????????????: Culture and Heritage Capital: Monetising the impact of culture and heritage on health and wellbeing The DCMS Culture and Heritage programme has released groundbreaking research that quantifies the benefits of cultural and heritage engagement on health and wellbeing in monetary terms. ???? Building on evidence from organisations like the WHO and UCL, which have shown how cultural participation supports the prevention, treatment, and management of health conditions, this new study offers actionable insights into the economic value of these benefits. ?? Full Report https://lnkd.in/e_Ene4Jp ?? Guardian Summary https://lnkd.in/dyTJw2ZG The research uses Treasury, NICE, and HMT methodologies to measure quality of life improvements, well-being, productivity gains, and NHS cost savings. Highlights include: ? General cultural engagement for 30-49-year-olds delivers a per-person impact of ￡992 and a societal benefit of ￡8 billion per annum. ? Visiting museums, galleries, and exhibitions regularly reduces dementia risk, valued at ￡369 per person and ￡1.5 billion annually for society. ? NHS and social care savings alone contribute ￡183 per person annually and ￡800 million in societal benefits. The published models will strengthen business cases by integrating health and wellbeing impacts into social cost-benefit analysis and value-for-money assessments, paving the way for robust investment in culture and heritage.

Visual Arts sector response to the government’s Industrial Strategy https://lnkd.in/eVnHYXgu The government calls for responses to its recently published green paper for a 10-year Industrial Strategy, which outlines how it plans to support businesses and future growth. The green paper highlights the creative industries as an important ‘growth driving sector’. A collaborative response to the consultation from several organisations, including CVAN England, a-n The Artists Information Company, Association of Photographers, and DACS, has been submitted to the government, and the full strategy will be published in Spring 2025. https://lnkd.in/eVnHYXgu

CVAN, a-n The Artists Information Company, DACS working in partnership for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Visual Arts and Artists This Autumn, the APPG for Visual Arts and Artists was reconvened with MPs and peers from all parties committing to providing?a forum for parliamentarians to foster a deeper understanding of the issues and challenges faced by UK visual artists and the visual arts. The group was established in 2021 with a secretariat from a-n, CVAN, and DACS to help ensure that the visual arts ecosystem fuels creativity, diversity, and economic growth, supporting both individuals and institutions to ensure the sector can remain world-leading. In this blog, Julie Lomax, CEO of a-n, The Artists Information Company, Paula Orrell, National Director Contemporary Visual Arts Network England and Christian Zimmermann, CEO of DACS explain why the three organisations are working together to ensure artists and the visual arts remain at the forefront of discussions in Westminster.

Shocking data was published today and commissioned by our partners, DACS. Key Findings: - The median earnings for visual artists is?￡12,500, a 47% decrease since 2010.* - 81%?of respondents describe their earnings as an artist as?'unstable' or 'very unstable'.? - Of?those surveyed, women and other genders earned 40% less than men.? - Disabled respondents earned 70% less?than non-disabled respondents. - 51%?of visual artists who responded had?second jobs,?41%?of them in?non-creative?fields. Even with additional sources of income, the median earnings for visual artists is?￡17,500

CVAN's National Director Paula Orrell's thoughts about the roving European Biennial Manifesta.

CVAN’s response to the Labour Autumn Budget While the Autumn Budget presents challenges – National Insurance increases and stagnant public investment since 2010 continue to strain arts organisations and freelancers – it also secures aspects of our sector: the permanence and significance of reforms, like the Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief (MGETR), remain crucial. The government’s?renewed focus on its industrial strategy has major implications for the cultural and creative sectors. Recognising the creative industries as key economic drivers, they highlight the critical role of?the creative industries?in?driving innovation, cultural value, and community development. CVAN would like to see more of a?balance?of?priorities between cutting-edge technologies and subsidised cultural fields. ? Support for Arts and Culture The government’s commitments include raising Grant-in-Aid for National Museums and Galleries to ensure long-term sustainability. A cultural infrastructure funding package could also sustain capital schemes, benefiting arts organisations through expanded facilities and enhanced services. ? Strategic investment in culture drives growth and transforms communities across the UK. Drawing on the Fabian Society’s?Arts for All of Us?report,?CVAN continues to stress that the arts, alongside health, education, and technology, are essential for economic renewal and societal well-being. ? We urge for more measures to be introduced to shield the creative workforce from rising costs and advocate for policies that place visual arts at the heart of the UK’s economic strategy. CVAN is committed to ensuring the arts remain central to a thriving, inclusive, and resilient society. ? Read the Campaign for the Arts summary to understand the Budget's implications for the cultural sector as a whole. https://lnkd.in/eabeymr2