An education in the arts and humanities is among the main factors that defines British culture and identity. This is the view of the Minister for Higher Education, David Lammy, given in a speech this morning at the Royal Society for the enouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Encouraging the skills that employers value, as well as the critical thinking and the ability to debate which is central to social engagement, community cohesion and democracy, the arts and humanities ‘reflect and help shape our modern society’, the Minister said. Calling for a greater recognition of the place of the arts and humanities in the Academy, he said that they were not only vital in economic terms but as an integral part of a ‘society I want to live in... the sort of society I hope you want to live in too.’

Citing the AHRC report – Leading the World - published last week, the Minister said that the AHRC had ‘pointed to the economic impact of music, literature, conservation and heritage, human rights and much more.

‘[The AHRC] make a key point,’ he continued, that ‘once our basic subsistence needs are satisfied, the arts and humanities encompass those things that make life worth living. They also contribute to the level of civilisation that makes this country such an attractive place in which to live and work. Clearly the quality of cultural and artistic life in the UK helps to make us an attractive destination for global business investment.’

You can listen again to the speech or read the full transcript from the BIS website.

For further information and the full text of the speech, please go to the the BIS website.