In a striking revelation from Britain's cultural frontline, a former government commissioner has questioned why the Conservative Party receives so little recognition for its substantial financial backing of the arts sector during and after the pandemic.
The Forgotten Rescue Package
Neil Mendoza, who served as commissioner for culture between 2020 and 2023, expressed surprise that major funding decisions directed at culture have been largely forgotten or ignored, potentially because they originated from a Conservative government.
During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, culture stood as the only economic sector to receive its own specially designed, comprehensive rescue package. The monumental £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund provided crucial support to more than 5,000 organisations across the country, ensuring their survival through the most challenging period in recent memory.
Regional Renaissance Projects
Beyond the immediate pandemic response, substantial government investment has flowed into ambitious cultural projects nationwide through various funding streams including levelling up, towns and borderlands initiatives.
Among the prominent examples cited by Mendoza are:
- Aviva Studios in Manchester
- Bristol Beacon
- V&A East in London
- Shakespeare North in Prescot
- Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham
- The developing Eden Project in Morecambe
These represent just a sample of the culture and heritage projects funded by government working closely with local authorities to transform communities and drive regional regeneration.
Silent Gratitude and Political Reality
The former commissioner noted that when Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended vital tax credits to theatre, museums and orchestras - mirroring the successful film tax reliefs that encourage international investment - the welcome was notably muted.
Similarly, when Arts Council England announced its increased funding round in 2022, public attention focused overwhelmingly on the few organisations that missed out rather than celebrating the 275 organisations receiving funding for the very first time across the nation.
Mendoza observed that while some cultural leaders privately expressed delight at the support, this gratitude often remained hidden. He suggested that many recipients remained silent because the Conservative narrative doesn't align with their worldview.
The cultural commissioner concluded with a sobering warning: if the sector cannot acknowledge and welcome support from politicians of all parties - along with the hard work of officials - then politicians cannot be expected to maintain their commitment as they must ultimately respond to their voters.
