A nation of Billy Elliots?

A Union Dance company member

BBC Radio 4's Analysis: A nation of Billy Elliots? will be broadcast on Thursday, 17th April 2008 at 20:30 and repeated on Sunday 20th April at 21.30 BST

Read the programme transcript

The arts in the UK are alive and kicking - from fashion to film the Government is promoting the arts like never before.

Almost daily, they are launching another initiative - five hours of culture per week in schools; 5,000 apprenticeships and a National Skills Academy for the Creative Industries; a new leadership programme for the arts and Creative Partnerships between artists and schools.

Then, just last week, the Government announced the appointment of the first ever Youth Dance Champion: the dancer and choreographer Wayne McGregor.

What is going on in the arts world?

Union Dance company members

What drives Government's sudden interest in our 'cultural industries' at a time when corporate and private donors are also queuing up to sponsor the arts? And could both their interests turn out to be a mixed blessing?

The Arts Council England has controversially decided to cut funding to many mainly small companies while the 'big boys' - like the Royal Opera House - remain the Arts Council's biggest client, due to receive £28.4 million of the Council's total £467 million budget in 2010-11.

Camilla Cavendish investigates just what is going on in the arts world for this week's Analysis.

Interviewees:

Corrinne Bougaard Artistic Director, Union Dance Company
Nicholas Hytner Director, National Theatre
Sara Selwood Professor of Cultural Policy and Management, City University, London
Margaret Hodge Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism
Kim Evans independent consultant and Trustee of the Heritage Lottery Fund
Roanne Dods Director, Jerwood Charitable Foundation
Colin Tweedy Chief Executive, Arts & Business
Dr Tak Wing Chang lecturer in sociology and human sciences, Oxford University