New directions in the arts and sport? Critiquing national strategies

Abstract

Taking as its starting point the Fields of Vision initiative’s interest in promoting the potential benefits of bringing sports and arts closer together, this paper reviews how national (English) policy addresses that challenge. Four key strategic documents (the Government’s Sport Strategy and its Culture White Paper as well as the strategies of Arts Council England and Sport England) are examined. That is supplemented by the views of significant individuals from this interface, including the research network funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Noting the similar social remit ascribed to sport and the arts by the government, shortcomings in the current strategies are identified as barriers to integration. ‘Play’ and ‘movement’ are briefly discussed as integrating concepts alongside our assessment of the potential of the arts/sport nexus, in areas including aesthetic innovation, promoting health and wellbeing, and encouraging wider participation and engagement. Having challenged existing national policies the paper suggests possible future directions.

Notes

1. https://artsinsport.wordpress.com/

2. This echoes the Chief Medical Officer (DH 2011, 17): ‘from a public health perspective, helping people to move from inactivity to low or moderate activity will produce the greatest benefit’.

3. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-ministerial-team-at-dcms-confirmed (last accessed 20 April 2017).

4. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations leads a consortium using funding from ACE to help improve the interaction between cultural organisations and public sector commissioners to develop greater awareness of the potential for cultural organisations to deliver social benefits.

5. According to the web site of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, it provides leadership, support and empowerment for professionals working in sport and physical activity, and a single voice for the sector: https://www.cimspa.co.uk/

6. We have been unable to identify record of a more recent equivalent.