WNO take over Twitter to discuss whether austerity will #killculture

This afternoon the Welsh National Opera took over Twitter to lead a debate around the question ‘will austerity kill culture?’ as part of the BBC’s Get Creative campaign.

WNO CEO and artistic director, David Pountney kicked off the one hour takeover with the statement “Culture is not the answer to everything, but life without culture is worth nothing”.

Throughout the discussion a number of key points were raised in regard to the challenges that face the arts as a result of reductions in funding, and the value of culture in today’s society.

A key area of debate was the effect of austerity on cultural organisations and the artists themselves:

@WNOtweet No austerity can't #killculture it can only destroy an arts infrastructure, that is a very different thing

— NoFit State Circus (@NoFitState) February 27, 2015

No public money helping out small venues & labels means no money into artists, venues charging more. Horizons shrink #killculture

— Claire Vaughan she/her 〓〓 🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🎬 (@pixieglas) February 27, 2015

@imacdave @WNOtweet however easy to say unless you are trying to make a sustainable living in that context #killculture

— Caitriona Noonan (@CaitrionaNoonan) February 27, 2015

There were also concerns about how reduced funding as a result of austerity also impacts on people’s access to the arts and culture:
https://twitter.com/Opera_North/status/571298460344967168

Austerity kills culture, funding cuts to schools and communities are limiting future talent and interest in the arts @WNOtweet #killculture

— Imogen Llewellyn (@Immyllewellyn) February 27, 2015

@aagenders @WNOtweet yes! The issue is not whether austerity can #killculture but rather whether austerity kills access to culture.

— Emma West (@emmagenevieve) February 27, 2015

However, Pountney was keen to assert that the value of culture should not be merely reduced to debates over funding, but rather should focus on its role in enriching our lives both on an individual and societal level:

@intofilm_edu Yes, the voice of people's needs is more powerful than discussions about money #killculture #bbcgetcreative

— Welsh National Opera (@WelshNatOpera) February 27, 2015

@chaptertweets people talk about "non-core services". Culture is at the core of our wellbeing as individuals and as a society #killculture

— Welsh National Opera (@WelshNatOpera) February 27, 2015

@WNCardiff To me, culture is an essential part of every human's wellbeing #killculture #bbcgetcreative

— Welsh National Opera (@WelshNatOpera) February 27, 2015

Today’s debate highlighted some of the challenges that face the arts and culture in a time of  budget cuts and austerity. However, there still seems to be an underlining optimism and belief in the strength of the arts to prevail as a positive influence in society.

Culture is ours forever. Maybe we should be asking "Can culture kill austerity?" @WNOtweet @chaptertweets #killculture #bbcgetcreative

— Cate Hopkins (@CateHop) February 27, 2015

WNO state on their website that they hope today’s #killculture debate ‘is just the start of an ongoing conversation dialogue between arts organisations, audiences and the general public about the value of the arts.’

The role of social media in facilitating this dialogue should not be overlooked. As demonstrated today, social media such as Twitter has opened up new opportunities for a variety of voices across academia, industry and beyond to be heard and take part in a wider conversation. Furthermore, if the value of culture is to be defined by our own experience and relationship with it as individuals within a society, then surely it is important that discussions around issues such as these are as open and accessible as possible.