City MP Stephen Morgan brought together representatives of the city’s creative and cultural sector with the Arts Council and Portsmouth Creates to discuss how to bring investment and support to the arts scene in Portsmouth.
Mr Morgan said that despite Portsmouth “fizzing full of potential” the government has failed to provide the support to unlock the many cultural opportunities that the city could offer.
The roundtable event, hosted at The Kings Theatre, was convened by Mr Morgan for a cross section of the city’s cultural sector to raise the opportunities and challenges Portsmouth faces with the Arts Council.
Arts Council England’s 2014 evidence review, ‘The Value of Arts and Culture to the People and Society’ found that for every £1 invested in arts and culture, up to £6 is generated for the local economy.
Last year the Labour questioned how Ministers decided how ‘levelling up for arts’ areas were decided, after questions were raised by industry leaders that they may have been politically motivated, whilst Portsmouth continues to miss out on its fair share of funding.
Following the roundtable Stephen Morgan MP, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, said:
“Arts and culture are amongst the things that Portsmouth does best, but with covid, the cost of living crisis and a reduction in Arts Council funding from government, many local artists, musicians and theatres are struggling.
“That’s why I brought together local representatives of the local sector to find a way forward. Portsmouth is fizzing full of potential. It just needs the support to unlock it.
“I hope discussions at the roundtable will act as a starting point for starting further and wider conversations to bring a fresh wave of investment to our local cultural sector.
“My huge thanks to the King’s Theatre for providing such a dramatic space for our event”.
The Portsmouth MP has vowed to continue to lobby government for investment into the city’s arts and cultural organisations, to improve access and ensure sustainability of local groups. Portsmouth Creates will be establishing a range of events in the coming months to bring local creatives and cultural organisations together.
