Framing the Future: The Political Case for Strengthening the Visual Arts Ecosystem
Image: Garth Gratrix, Flamboyant Flamingos, 2024, Grundy Art Gallery. Photo by Benjamin Nuttall
We are proud to share a major new report which went live on 24th April 2025, that sets out a clear, actionable roadmap to secure the future of the UK’s visual arts sector — and unlock its full potential to deliver the Government’s national priorities around economic growth, education, and public health.
Why this matters:
In 2023, the UK’s visual arts sector exported £4.1 billion—more than the country’s total exports to countries like Greece or Portugal. We are home to world-leading institutions, iconic public galleries, and some of the most influential artists working today.
But behind the headlines, the infrastructure that supports this success is under severe strain:
• Exports are down £1.7bn since 2018
• Artists and organisations face mounting financial pressures
• Trade, technology, and access barriers are rising
The report outlines 4 key recommendations:
Establish a UK Cultural Investment Partnership Fund
Create a £5 million Grassroots Visual Arts Fund
Expand access to free creative education through the National Saturday Club
Restore specialist subject funding in higher education
Commissioned by:
CVAN Contemporary Visual Arts Network, John Hansard Gallery (University of Southampton) and Southampton Institute for Arts and Humanities, in collaboration with a-n The Artists Information Company, DACS (Design and Artists Copyright Society), and Plus Tate.
Report written by Erskine Analysis.
Erskine Analysis is a think-tank founded by Eliza Easton. It is focussed on soft power, the global creative industries and the future of the UK economy.
Framing the Future offers a strategic framework for how public investment can sustain and grow the visual arts — benefiting communities, boosting the economy, and securing our cultural legacy.