• "Improbable is one of the brilliant faces of British Theatre"
    The Observer

Public funding is essential to the Arts

Why Art Matters

“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live” Auguste Rodin

Chalk, paint, the written word, stills, curtain calls, musical notes, dancing in fields…What makes your heart beat faster?

Art and culture has shaped our communities, broadened our horizons and enriched our lives and the UK has produced some of the worlds most enduring cultural offerings.

Imagine a life without the arts. A world without theatres, galleries or festivals. Without Mozart or the Beatles, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or Warhol; without Shakespeare, Chekhov or JK Rowling. A world of grey and quiet, where technicolor doesn’t exist and walls are blank. It’s not worth thinking about.

Public investment is central to keeping the arts available and affordable to everyone in the UK, and nurturing the great artists and arts events of the future.

Public investment in the arts and culture makes huge economic sense:

  • Every £1 of public money invested generates £5 for the economy*.
  • The UK’s creative industries are worth £71.4 billion per year yet public funding (including museums and libraries) amounts to 0.7% of total government spend**.
  • The Creative Industries are worth £8 million per hour to the UK economy**.
  • UK funding for the arts costs just 14p per person, per week**.

The UK has world class artistic and cultural offerings. Let’s keep it that way. #Culturematters

*Source: Creative Industries Federation July 2015
**Source: 2014 – 2015, Arts Council England

Improbable is extremely proud to receive funding from the UK government via Arts Council England. We take the responsibility that comes from this investment incredibly seriously, and are dedicated to not only generating challenging and pioneering work, but also to supporting other creatives reach their full potential. The impact of our public investment for 2015 – 2016 is set out below.

*Source: Arts & Growth Report commissioned by Creative Industries Federation July 2015
**Source: DCMS Creative Industries worth £8 million an hour to UK economy


“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one”

Stella Adler