Brass bands could be set to indirectly benefit from the proposed proceeds of a 'Tourist Tax' which a recent report suggests may be able to raise more than £1 billion for culture and placemaking in England alone.

Levy

It comes from the Cultural Policy Unit which is advocating a levy of between 3% and 5% on accommodation in England, with its proceeds specifically driven towards cultural attractions, creative districts and grassroots venues.

It also argues that such a mechanism could in part be administered by Arts Council England — the body that currently awards grant payments to brass band organisations such as Brass Bands England and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain amongst others.

Undervalued

In addition, the Northern Culture All-Party Parliamentary Group recently added its voice to support the recommendations saying that, "for too long, northern culture has been undervalued and underfunded."

It added: "We need to place culture at the heart of our industrial strategy. It must be viewed as a vital piece of critical infrastructure which we prioritise and invest in. If we don't, the risk of failure is too great. This inquiry makes that case abundantly clear."

Many European countries already use the levy to generate what it called "substantial revenue" of more than £1 billion annually. According to the Cultural Policy Unit, a £3 levy a night would raise approximately £1.2 billion a year, while a £5 levy would raise around £2.1 billion.

It also argues that such a mechanism could in part be administered by Arts Council England — the body that currently awards grant payments to brass band organisations4BR

Support culture

The scheme has gained further interest after evidence said 73% of tourists reference the UK's cultural offer as a "primary reason for visiting the country", whilst the money generated could support the culture sector at a time of both local authority cuts and potential future government funding cuts as outlined by the Conservative party.

It was suggested that the "borough-based distribution model", driven by city mayors and combined and local authorities, would bring benefits to local theatres and venues, museums and libraries, and specific cultural projects, with regional rebalancing to ensure that areas outside the capital and big cities also benefit from increased investment.