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Who we are

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Visual Arts has been established to provide a forum for parliamentarians to foster a deeper understanding of the issues and challenges faced by UK visual artists.

The APPG’s statement of purpose is to:

  • Advance the understanding of how visual artists carry out their practice and develop their careers;
  • Ensure fair pay for visual artists and safeguard their intellectual property rights;
  • Recognise the value artists bring to society and the UK economy, and ensure their artistic contributions are rewarded;
  • Foster an environment in the UK in which visual artists can flourish.

Officers

Theo Clarke MP
Chair

Theo Clarke is the Conservative MP for Stafford and before politics worked for the Museum of Modern Art in New York and for British auction house, Christie’s. She is co-founder of the Association of Women in the Arts

Sir Roger Gale MP
Vice-Chair

Sir Roger Gale is the Conservative MP for North Thanet and is vice-chair for the APPG for the British Council

Earl of Clancarty
Vice-Chair

The Earl of Clancarty is a crossbench peer and is vice-chair for the APPG for Art, Craft and Design in Education

Lord Inglewood
Vice-Chair

Lord Inglewood is a non-affiliated peer and is vice-chair for the APPG for Conservation, Places and People

Giles Watling MP
Vice-Chair

Giles Watling is the Conservative MP for Clacton and is on the committee for culture, media and sport

Jamie Stone MP
Vice-Chair

Jamie Stone is Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for digital, culture, media and sport

Damian Collins MP
Vice-Chair

Damian Collins is Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe and former chair of this APPG and former parliamentary under secretary at DCMS

Simon Baynes MP
Officer

Simon Baynes is the Conservative MP for Clywyd South and is vice-chair for the APPG for the British Museum

Kim Johnson MP
Officer

Kim Johnson is the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside and sits on the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art, a cross-party group appointed by the Speaker to advise on the use and management of the Parliamentary Art Collection

Julie Elliott MP
Officer

Julie Elliott is the Labour MP for Sunderland Central and since 2015 has been a member of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee