AROUND 60 people gathered last Saturday in Barnsley for the Communist Party’s first-ever conference on culture. Called “Class and Culture,” the conference was held in the inspiring surroundings of the NUM headquarters in Barnsley, and was chaired by Ron Brown, co-convener of the party’s Culture Commission. 

The aim of the event was to bring together party members, supporters, cultural activists and performers, to look at ways in which the cultural struggle, and the drive to promote cultural democracy, could be ramped up and integrated more closely with our economic and political struggles for a better world.

Communist Party chair Ruth Styles opened the event by sketching out some key problems which we faced in the struggle for cultural democracy. Firstly, problems of access of working-class people to cultural experiences of all kinds, because of cost, location and the increasing lack of cultural education in schools. 

Secondly, the problems faced by people from working-class backgrounds within the cultural industries, in terms of getting jobs in the industry, precarious work, lack of career progression, and unfair discrimination. 

Thirdly, the grossly inadequate and unfair cultural representation of working-class lives, histories, values and experiences, eg on TV and film, in museums and galleries, and in the arts generally.

A cultural interlude followed in the form of a prose poem from the Culture Matters co-operative, on the subject of cultural democracy. Culture Matters had also set up an exhibition of politically progressive visual art and poetry for conference participants.

A panel of speakers then elaborated on some aspects of the problems outlined by Ruth Styles. John Pateman spoke about the history of public libraries and campaigns to keep them as free, open spaces for community use, where working people can access various forms of culture. 

Kevin McCann spoke eloquently from experience about the liberating power of writing, reading and hearing poetry performed in community settings. 

Daisy-Mae Stewart bemoaned the effects of cuts to youth services on cultural activities, and she did this not only through an address to the conference but also by a short two-person play she had written specially, and which was performed to the delight of the audience. 

Ed Harlow, a music teacher from the National Education Union, spoke about the evidence showing how important cultural skills are for succeeding at school in all subjects. He explained how cultural education of all kinds has been savagely cut from the school curriculum over the last few years of Tory government, and introduced the forthcoming NEU campaign to restore arts education in schools.

Breakout sessions then considered how to embed projects and campaigns into other work in the party, and how to go about building cultural democracy in practice. Recommendations included including appointing officers to take forward cultural activities and campaigns within trade unions, trades councils and party branches; and supporting the Fair Play Cabaret initiative by Equity (reviewed recently by Andy Hedgecock in the Morning Star).

After lunch, the afternoon session chaired by Ben Lunn focused on integrating culture with struggles for change. It started with a performance by a local brass band, and then Heather Wood and Betty Cook talked about the 1984 miners’ strike, and how important both cultural production and consumption were in accompanying and sustaining that struggle. 

The musician Joe Solo joined the session with some political songs, and then a second round of discussions gave participants the chance for discussion on the value of culture as a force for change. More recommendations for action were generated, such as supporting progressive theatre companies and using film shows to promote our messages, particularly in rural areas.

Ruth Styles closed the conference by urging participants to ensure that the booklet Class and Culture was read and discussed widely in branches. She suggested that some form of cultural activity was planned locally by everyone, as a practical step forward. She also asked that the Culture Commission consider all the recommendations and produce a report and guide to action, for the party but also the wider labour movement.

For a free e-version of Class and Culture contact: info@culturematters.org.uk