**TL;DR The arts and culture industry is vital to our economy – we must keep it alive** Aside from the fact that theatres and museums are altruistic institutions that exist to benefit the public culturally and educationally, they are also vital to our economy. In 2016, the arts and culture sector contributed to the UK economy with [£21.2bn in direct turnover](https://www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/facts-figures/industries-arts-culture-arts-culture-facts-and-figures-the-economic-contribution-of-the-arts), with £10.8bn in Gross Value Added (GVA). When also taking indirect effects into account, the industry is estimated to have provided £48bn in turnover, and £23bn in GVA. Museums and theatres are essential to the [tourist industry](https://www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/encouraging_investment/tourism/): 40% of the UK’s tourists name culture as the reason for their visit; and 43% of tourists visit museums and art galleries during their stay. Tourism has been the [fastest growing sector](https://www.visitbritain.org/value-tourism-england) in the UK since 2010, contributing £106bn a year to the economy and providing over 2 million jobs. During the pandemic, many theatres and museums have had to stay closed due to lockdown conditions and social distancing measures. Because of this, many have been unable to maintain a commercial income, and have instead depended on [government grants](https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries) and individual donors to survive. However, once borders are reopened, these same theatres and museums will once again attract tourists to our shores and help to pump life back into the economy. From a purely economical point of view, taxpayer money should be used to sustain public interest institutions like theatres and museums because they are necessary for the long term health of our economy.

I could perhaps see it with theatres. But definitely not with museums. THAT would be forgetting or restructuring history. More so than arguments over statues or school names.

The free market optimises for financial success. Monetary value does not directly correlate with fluffy human factors like heightened feelings of wellbeing (i.e - stimulation and happiness from experiencing arts & culture), and especially it doesn't bear a relationship with social constructs like traditions & history. Wanting to feel connected to our ancestors via history is a deeply ingrained human trait, one everyone agrees with, but the market doesn't allow it to self-sustain without help.