NFASP response to 'Cultural Metropolis - The London Mayor’s Priorities for Culture 2009-12'

At the end of 2008 the Mayor of London outlined his plans to enhance every Londoners’ experience of arts and culture in the capital, including better provision in the outer boroughs, measures to improve music and art education and a drive to reduce red tape and to support creativity and grass-roots talent. ‘Cultural Metropolis - The London Mayor’s Priorities for Culture 2009-12’ invited interested groups throughout the capital to respond to the strategy. The NFASP’s response to the consultation raised issues on behalf of London’s affordable artists’ studio providers, and in support of the art culture and creativity that their work ultimately helps to support.
NFASP welcomed the report’s acknowledgement of the role and contribution artists make to the cultural life of the capital, and to the educational and cultural experience of everyone who lives in and visits London. However, the Federation pointed out the importance of spaces for the development and production of art, as well as its exhibition. It also highlighted how important affordable studios are in supporting the research and risk taking that leads to high quality cultural outcomes, and feeds into education, community engagement and academic research.
In particular, the NFASP response raised the need to sustain and nurture the new talent emerging in the capital and called on the Mayor’s office to recognise the need for strategic support for the provision of facilities for early career artists in particular, in order to feed the future of London’s culture as well as its present.