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Arts Council unveils three-year strategy
Arts Council England (ACE) has unveiled a three-year initiative which outlines its vision for the future of the arts.
Five main national objectives have been outlined in the Arts Council Plan 2008-11, with the promotion of 'great art for everyone' as a central priority of the document. As well as reaching more people through the arts, the objectives laid out in the plan include encouraging more opportunities for people to get involved with the arts, achieving excellence in the arts and developing arts which reflect national diversity. Innovative arts is another aim the plan hopes to achieve.
Four development priorities have also been set out for the next three years, including increasing the use of digital technology to connect with audiences, improving the reach of visual arts provision, ensuring young people are aware of opportunities available, and using the London 2012 Olympics to enrich the arts in England. The plan has been developed following ACE's Arts Debate, an extensive consultation with artists, arts organisations and commercial partners, as well as audiences. The McMaster Review of excellence in the arts, the government's Creative Britain strategy, and the McIntosh Review into ACE's funding strategy have also helped shape the initiative.
Alan Davey, chief executive of ACE, said: "Our mission for the next three years, ten years and beyond is clear and unequivocal. It is great art for everyone. "We set the conditions in which excellence and ambition can flourish; we make sure as many people as possible can experience the great art that is produced."
A major review of ACE's organisational structure, management and operations will be carried out within the next year, in order to comply with a DCMS target to reduce administrative costs by 15 per cent. The result of that review will be announced next June, and changes implemented by April 2010.