As we anticipate the results of the UK General Election on 5th July 2024, it is crucial to reflect on how the new government can support cultural democracy and social cohesion through policy changes in media and public services. Here, I present a series of questions for consideration by policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders to ensure these essential matters are addressed in the post-election landscape.
Implementing Cultural Democratic Policies
How can we structure new media policies to encourage cultural democracy by empowering diverse voices and ensuring equitable access to cultural creation and participation? What specific changes in media and public services policy do we think will be are necessary to support inclusive cultural participation? What changes do we need to make to the funding mechanisms that should be established to ensure a wide range of cultural activities and practitioners receive adequate support? Additionally, how we can evaluate and demonstrate the impact of these policies on enhancing cultural democracy?
Addressing Resistance from Established Institutions
What strategies can we employ to overcome resistance from traditional cultural organisations and gatekeepers who may be reluctant to embrace cultural democracy? It is important to identify the policy changes necessary to encourage established institutions to share power and authority in cultural decision-making. What changes to the funding model do we need to make so that support for both traditional and emerging cultural entities are provided during this transition? Do we need to think about the measures and tools that we have for inclusive evaluation, that show how we can measure and demonstrate the impact of reduced resistance and increased inclusivity?
Ensuring Quality While Broadening Participation
How can we balance the need for artistic excellence with the goal of broadening participation and valuing diverse cultural expressions in media and cultural policies? It is important to establish policy frameworks that ensure high-quality cultural outputs while promoting inclusivity, however, we need to reflect on the funding allocations needed to support quality cultural initiatives across diverse communities. Additionally, what the criteria we should use to evaluate the quality and inclusivity of cultural outputs?
Overcoming Existing Inequalities
What measures can we implement to address deep-rooted social and economic disparities that hinder equal participation in cultural creation and decision-making? What specific policy changes do we need to make to reduce inequalities in cultural participation? What forms of investment are required to provide equitable access to cultural resources and opportunities? How we can evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of these measures in overcoming inequalities?
Supporting Infrastructure and Access
How can we ensure equitable access to resources, spaces, and platforms for cultural creation and sharing across different communities? What infrastructure improvements do we need to make that are necessary to support cultural democracy and the level of funding and investment required to develop and maintain these infrastructures? Additionally, what the criteria we should use to evaluate the accessibility and effectiveness of cultural infrastructure?
Shifting Mindsets and Cultural Hierarchies
What approaches can we adapt to change deeply ingrained ideas about culture and who gets to define it, fostering a more inclusive cultural landscape? What policy initiatives can we support that can help shift traditional cultural hierarchies towards a more inclusive model? What investment is going to be needed to support initiatives that challenge and redefine cultural norms, and how can we measure the success of these initiatives in shifting cultural mindsets.
Conclusion
As we await the outcome of the General Election, it is necessary to consider these questions and the corresponding policy changes, funding requirements, and evaluation criteria needed to foster a cultural democracy that enhances social cohesion. By addressing these critical matters, we can ensure that our cultural landscape becomes more inclusive, participatory, and reflective of the diverse voices within our communities. Your feedback on each question will help ensure that these critical matters are addressed effectively. Let us work together to promote cultural democracy and social cohesion in our post-election landscape.