Art has the power to create communities

Public funding cuts announced last year hit the entire voluntary sector, but one area that has felt a particularly strong impact is the arts community. No longer can arts organisations count on Arts Council support, or on local authorities and commissioners to spend their reduced funds on community-based arts projects. So what value do we, as a society, now place on the arts? And what is their purpose in this age of austerity? I have been particularly fortunate, in both my professional and personal life, to work with arts organisations that have transformed the lives of some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and isolated people in society. I have seen first-hand the immense power of arts projects to summon up the most profound of emotions, and to inculcate a magical shared sense of belonging among disparate and withdrawn individuals – creating communities where none previously existed. The arts, in the broadest sense, contribute to people's happiness and wellbeing. Their ability to entertain, engage and mesmerise is beyond doubt. But this is one small part of the picture. In the tough funding climate we now operate in, to receive public subsidy the arts must demonstrate they deliver positive social outcomes. The economic crisis and this government's reform agenda call for tighter spending and innovative ways of working together to reduce costs, while still delivering positive outcomes for the most vulnerable in society. Commissioners across sectors must make tough decisions as how to target the reduced funds at their disposal. Pooling budgets and joint commissioning is a sensible response to this dilemma, and arts projects are the ideal testbed for shared commissioning. Over the last year, with the support of the City of London's City Bridge Trust, I have visited arts projects in a range of settings. The participants I encountered were hugely diverse: people with mental health problems, older people in care homes, young people, young adults with learning disabilities, ex-offenders and many more. I was struck by the highly structured, focused and clearly defined methods, the lack of time-wasting, drifting, lassitude and pointless activity. Anyone who has spent time in community and youth centre-organised activities will know this is not always the case. The biggest challenge facing commissioners is to deliver more with less resources. The task is for local authorities and commissioners to work together to identify and reach those most in need. Arts projects are often seen as soft targets for cuts, but it is these projects that are uniquely placed to provide sustainable benefits across society. The facilitators of the projects I observed were highly versatile, enhancing creative skills to reduce stigma and exclusion, and giving a powerful voice to participants facing up to a diverse range of challenges. Art can release the creative potential inside each and every one of us, regardless of background and personal circumstance. The magic of making is accessible to all, and becoming an artist is the best possible way for people to understand and manage their emotions better. Today (18 July) at the Barbican I will make the case for the arts and hope to begin a national dialogue on the potential of arts activities to deliver social outcomes. It is time to assess what value we, as a society, place on the arts. Gerard Lemos is a partner at Lemos & Crane Social Researchers This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Become a Public Leaders Network member to get our weekly update direct to your inbox