Not art for art’s sake but to give disaffected youth a legitimate means of expression, to give a voice to those communities seldom heard, to create a sense of place, to help tackle racism, domestic violence, bulling in schools and long term unemployment. In general to help to make things better.Never mind the rhetoric of community engagement and empowerment it’s art, drama and music that have traditionally have been the ways of rebelling and expressing dissent in a way that petitions, reports, and letters can never capture. Performing arts can provide an awareness-raising experience and connect with sections of the community that are often described as hard to reach.Do you remember the group of elderly people who got together with a record producer to release a version of The Who's My Generation, drawing attention to the poor quality of life endured by many older people in society today?Arts events such as music festivals can engage the young or showcase minority ethnic cultures through Caribbean carnivals or Asian melas. Art exhibitions can record a place's past or reflect present diversity.Plays in schools, films made by community groups and radio adverts designed by young people can engage a wider audience in addressing juvenile crime; bullying, binge drinking, graffiti and littering. In this way drama, music and art can bridge the generation gap and bring together sections of the community that might otherwise have no contact.Public art like the Angel of the north can influence a place's image and have a positive impact on people's view of where they live. A vibrant music scene, the annual carnival, a film festival, public art, a well supported theatre are all indicators of a community which is forward-looking, creative and energised.These factors can be as important to the local economy as access to good road and rail links and a skilled workforce.Investing in arts and investing in an area's cultural infrastructure recognises that, far from being the icing on the cake, the arts are a fundamental ingredient in making for a better place to live, work, visit and invest in. Which as it happens is what local authorities are all about. Blair McPherson former director of Community services at Lancashire county council www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
