A new snapshot report into the health of the UK’s arts sector has painted a worrying picture, with analysis showing a persistent inequality gap in engagement, low wages for younger workforces and a continuing decline in government funding.

The figures have been produced by the UK-wide alliance Campaign for the Arts, which last year warned in its seminal State of the Arts Report that the UK had the lowest levels of government spending on culture among European nations.

Twelve months on, it has published stats relating to five key metrics, including arts engagement and arts funding – and urged the Labour government to focus on “progress and improvement for the arts” during its second year in power.