AN award-winning author called for the protection of arts funding at the launch of the Brighton Festival.

Ali Smith, guest director of this year’s festival, made the call ahead of the general and local elections which coincide with the first week of the festival in May.

Discussing how “exhausting” political soundbites would become over the coming months, she said: “Art is the opposite of soundbites – there’s that dimensional quality that can’t help but relieve us.

“I have a full confidence in the way in which the fertile nature of the arts can open our ways of thinking. It can’t help but help.

“Art is revealing politically on its own terms. We have strong speakers who are revealing what is going on in the world.

“The importance and power of art is clear to all of us. I think art brings things into focus very sharply.”

Ms Smith also spoke out on education, which she feels also needs to maintain an obligation to teaching the arts.

She read out statistics that the number of specialist art teachers in state schools has fallen by 11%, drama teachers by 8% and that there has been a 6% cut in the hours of art and design.

Ms Smith said: “Art makes us. We will see the outcome of that in years to come. We have to change this.”

Jason Kitcat, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, a key funding body, was keen to emphasise the role art and culture can play in the city.

He said: “Public service isn’t just about running schools and things – it’s about quality of life and creating places to visit.

“As a council we take very seriously our duty to provide the cash to make these things happen.

“We are seeing that this isn’t just about festivals. It’s about the city as a whole.”

Hedley Swain, the south east area director of Arts Council England, another major provider of funding, added: “We don’t want to bore people with statistics about the value of art.

“We want people to experience great art and culture.

“Now more than ever knowing what’s ahead of us this year. It’s important we all advocate the value of arts and culture.”

On her involvement in this year’s festival, Ms Smith added: “I’m still amazed it’s got anything to do with me at all.”

Brighton Festival chief executive Andrew Comben has described Ms Smith as “the most self-effacing of our guest directors so far”.