In the next couple of weeks the government will make financial decisions for the next 4 years as part of the Spending Review. We have been talking with many of you and your colleagues about how to make the best possible case for arts and culture. Time is of the essence and we need to act now to have any impact.
All advice suggests that our best approach is to contact MPs directly to make an informed case as to why culture is important locally and nationally. It is particularly important that we target the new intake, influential conservatives and backbenchers – but its our aim for every MP in the country to be contacted at least once.
To support us all in making this happen we have put together a range of supporting materials around a campaign: Arts For Britain (#Arts4Britain).
There are 3 things you can do today:
- Write to your MP
- Collect 4 key stats about your organisation to either build your own infographic using the template or ask us to create it for you
- Join the social media campaign #Arts4Britain and sign up to Thunderclap
Please forward this email onto your staff and contacts to get everyone involved.
For full details of what we are asking you to do, please read the ‘How to’ guide attached.
For key arguments, stats and a one minute elevator pitch, please read the Spending Round Engagement Strategy.
We are offering organisations some real life support in taking this forward. Joe Bond is working with What Next? to help anyone do any of the above. Please feel free to contact if you need support contacting your MP, engaging local press, making an infographic or sourcing statistics. His email and telephone number are available at the bottom of the page here. Joe will be ringing round colleagues in the next few weeks – so please don’t be surprised if he calls and offers you a hand.
This is urgent – we have only a few weeks now to make a difference.
Please contact us if you have any thoughts or inspiration.
Rosie, Lizzie and Joe for What Next?
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