Labour doing ‘more harm than good’ for arts, claims Hytner

The former artistic director of the National Theatre has warned that performing and visual arts are entering “the most difficult year” in his professional experience.

Speaking at the end of a session at the Jewish Labour Movement conference this week where he discussed antisemitism in the arts, Hytner said the current state of the arts sector causes him concern, adding that “more harm has been done than good” since Labour came to power.

Discussing experiences throughout his career, Hytner said there was a contrast between now and when he joined the National Theatre more than 20 years ago.

“I arrived at the National in 2003, a golden time when the [Labour] Secretary of State, Tessa Jowell, was passionately interested in her brief,” he said.

“I don’t think there has been a secretary of state who has been passionately interested in their brief at DCMS since then, but she also had a lot of money to spend. It was easy for me.”

But he said 2010 saw the “biggest cuts in the culture budget that any of us have ever seen”, adding that 15 years on “we have been undermined on all fronts”.

“The education reforms of the last government mean that the entire state sector is in danger of being disenfranchised,” he said.

“There are kids who are not introduced to drama, not introduced to music, and not introduced to art.”

“The private education sector continues to pour money and resources into arts and sports. That has been progressively withdrawn from the state sector. That needs to change. It hasn’t yet.”

‘Money taken away by Labour’

Pivoting to positive changes in the creative industries, Hytner cited moves by the previous Conservative government to confirm theatre tax relief at its higher rate and increase movie tax relief for British-made movies up to a budget of £50m by 40%.

He continued, “Both of those were done by [then Chancellor] Jeremy Hunt. I genuinely believe that this [Labour] government needs to be given time, but the reality is that what it’s done is take money away through employers’ National insurance.

“The reality… is that [the rise in] employers’ National Insurance… means that the Royal Opera [pays] £1.5m, the National Theatre [pays] £1.1m, the Young Vic [pays] £40,000…[and that] money has been taken away by a Labour government.

“A vast capital spend is going to be needed over the next two or three years because the last big round of capital spending was around the time of the lottery – the millennium.

“Things are going to close, and they will close on this government’s watch. Artistic enterprises are going to fold.

“Local government expenditure has basically been cut in real terms by 50%. Local government spending on the arts has been on the front line of… cuts. Because why not?”

‘Existing on the margins’

Hytner, who is artistic director of the London Theatre Company, which runs The Bridge theatre in London, said it is “bluntly crazy” that the creative industries, which he said “can make a great argument that they are a generator of growth” have so far “not appeared on the agenda at all”.

“All I can say is I hope they do. So far, it’s very early days [of the Labour government] but, so far, more harm has been done than good, I’m afraid.”

In response to Hytner’s comment, DCMS said that its settlement at the spending review was positive within a tight fiscal climate and prioritised support for the growth of creative industries and cultural institutions.

A government spokesperson told Arts Professional, “We are delivering the economic stability needed to repair our public services and support businesses to grow. The creative industries are vital in turning the corner.

“That is why we have brought together more than 250 creative businesses, including the National Theatre, for an economic growth summit to recognise their critical role as we deliver our Plan for Change. 

“We will turbocharge the creative industries, including with a £60 million package of support with investment for start-up video game studios, British music and film exports and creative businesses outside of London.”