A petition calling for new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to recognise arts and culture as an “essential ingredient in the future we all want to build” has garnered more than 13,000 signatures.

Launched by Campaign for the Arts on Saturday (25 July), the petition asks Burnham to include culture in the government’s upcoming 10-year plan.

Burnham recently revealed in his first speech as Prime Minister that he would “bring forward” publication of the plan, “laying out a path from where we are now to where I believe we all want Britain to be”.

The petition calls for the arts to be part of it, saying: “Whoever we are, wherever we live and however we vote, we need the arts in our lives… These are not luxury items, but essential ingredients in the fabric of a healthy society.”

It continues: “In too many places, that fabric has been fraying. The arts can help to mend it. Rather than squeezing the arts out of our schools and universities, let’s nurture creativity and curiosity. Instead of letting our libraries and cultural venues close down, let’s build and protect the places that fire our imaginations and bring people together.

“Instead of continuing down a path of decline (UK public funding for culture is now at one of the lowest levels in Europe), let’s invest in our artists and cultural organisations, so that they – and we – can flourish and grow.”

The petition, which has already attracted 13,278 signatures at time of writing (27 July), references the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Arts Council by Clement Attlee’s Labour government as part of plans to “rebuild the nation” in the wake of World War Two.

“We need the arts to play a similar role now,” it adds, “transforming lives, communities and the whole country for the better. And that’s why we need them in the 10-year plan for the UK.”