On 24 April 2025, Framing the Future: The Political Case for Strengthening the Visual Arts Ecosystem was launched at the House of Commons ahead of the UK Government’s Spending Review. Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange contributed to the report with a case study from our two-year initiative Think Talk Make Art (2021), funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Teacher Development Fund.
As a gallery committed to education, community engagement, and supporting artists, we are heartened to see these priorities recognised at a national level. Our Director, James Green, attended the launch event, joining fellow cultural leaders and policymakers in calling for meaningful, sustained investment in the sector.
“We’re proud to see Think Talk Make Art featured in Framing the Future,” said James. “This recognition highlights the impact of high-quality arts education in rural schools—and the vital role galleries like ours play in nurturing creativity, confidence, and opportunity for young people.”
The Think Talk Make Art project saw us work with nine primary schools across rural West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to establish in-school galleries in each location. Beyond bringing art into schools, the project focused on building teachers’ knowledge, confidence, and skills in art pedagogy, particularly for those who didn’t see themselves as art specialists.
Commissioned by CVAN (Contemporary Visual Arts Network) and John Hansard Gallery, in collaboration with organisations including DACS and a-n The Artists Information Company, the report presents a bold vision for strategic investment in the visual arts. Authored by Eliza Easton of Erskine Analysis, Framing the Future outlines four key recommendations for the upcoming Spending Review:
- A UK Cultural Investment Partnership Fund to provide emergency support, business innovation funding, and capital investment.
- A £5 million Grassroots Visual Arts Fund, modelled on the Grassroots Music Fund, to support small galleries, studios, and artist-led spaces.
- Expansion of Creative Education Access, including £8.4 million annually to scale up the National Saturday Club network for young people.
- Restoration of Specialist Subject Funding in Higher Education, reversing cuts made in 2021.
Together, these recommendations form a roadmap for sustaining and strengthening the UK’s visual arts sector—ensuring it can continue to drive growth, support wellbeing, and enhance education across the country.
Download the full report (PDF) or Read more on the CVAN website