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It’s time for the arts to put its own figure on the value of the arts and to make a more robust, coherent case for their continued funding, argues STUART McLAUGHLIN,of Business2Arts

IN THE TIME that I have worked closely with the arts community, I have observed and often commented on the lack of evidence and rationale behind many of the cases for funding that are presented by the sector. In the good times this was no obstacle to a steadily increased share of public funding (but was almost certainly a restricting factor). However, now that circumstances are more challenging, the absence of data and a robust case, especially when set against the departmental bedfellows of sport and tourism, is extremely damaging.