The Campaign for the Arts launched on 24 October 2022. It was formed by the merger of the National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) and Public Campaign for the Arts (PCA).
Background In 1983, the UK Government published a
white paper proposing the abolition of the
Greater London Council (GLC) and six top-tier
Metropolitan County Councils (MCCs). Arts figures warned that the changes "would radically alter the structures and levels of arts funding" and "could have irreparable consequences on the artistic life of this country". Representatives from more than 600 arts organisations assembled at
The Old Vic in London on 11 December 1983, to prepare a "collective and independent response" and to "back the creation of a National Lobby for the Arts". The meeting was chaired by
Joan Bakewell, and speakers included
Tony Banks,
George Tremlett and
Peter Hall.
National Campaign for the Arts The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) was launched in London on 12 March 1985. Its first Director was Simon Crine, and its President was
Melvyn Bragg. It was initially funded by six Founder Members: the
Association of British Orchestras, the
British Actors' Equity Association, the
Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance, the
Musicians' Union, the
Society of West End Theatre and the
Theatrical Management Association. The NCA’s first campaign was to urge local councils to maintain cultural funding.
Directors of the NCA • Simon Crine (1985-1990) • Simon Mundy (1990-1993) • Jennifer Edwards (1993-1998) • Victoria Todd (1998-2006) • Louise de Winter (2006-2011) • Selina Mehra (
Acting Director, 2011-2012) • Laura Willoughby (
Interim Director, 2012)
Chairs of the NCA • Stephen Remington (1985-1988) • David Pratley (1988-1992) • Richard Pulford (1992-1996) •
Stewart Steven (1996-2004) •
Joan Bakewell (2004-2010) •
Kate Adie (2010-2011) • Richard Turner (
Acting Chair, 2011-2012) •
Samuel West (2012-2022)
Public Campaign for the Arts The Public Campaign for the Arts (PCA) was launched on 18 June 2020. Its founding Director was Jack Gamble. When the effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic threatened the UK’s cultural sector, 150,000 members of the public joined the PCA to urge the Government to deliver the
Culture Recovery Fund. Their role was featured in
Alan Yentob’s BBC documentary,
imagine…We’ll Be Back. In March 2021,
Nottingham City Council reduced budget cuts to arts organisations from 37% to 15% following a campaign which involved over 3,500 local supporters of the Public Campaign for the Arts. In May 2021, over 160,000 people supported the PCA’s national campaign against cuts to arts and creative courses at
Higher education level in England. In February 2022, the
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead abandoned a 100% cut to arts funding and approved a 17% increase, after a PCA campaign supported by former UK Prime Minister
Theresa May. ==Organisation and governance==