A manifesto outlining the social and economic benefits of continued investment in the culture and heritage sectors has been unveiled by a number of leading organisations.

Cultural Capital: A Manifesto for the Future calls for spending to be maintained on both sectors in order to ensure a lasting legacy is provided by the 2012 Olympics. According to the document, the arts and heritage sector has already seen £2.2bn of National Lottery income redirected towards the 2012 Games, with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) losing out on £161.2m.

The manifesto reveals that total cultural spending amounts to just 1 per cent of the NHS' total budget, while the UK's cultural economy is the largest anywhere in the world relative to GDP. Increases in London theatre box office receipts and the success of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture - which led to a 27 per cent increase in visitors to the city and generated £800m for the local economy - are also used to highlight the sector's importance.

Arts Council England (ACE); English Heritage; the Heritage Alliance; the Association of Independent Museums; the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council; English Heritage; the HLF and the Local Government Association are among the organisations involved. Cultural Learning Alliance; Museums Association; National Heritage Memorial Fund; National Campaign for the Arts; National Museum Directors' Conference; Society of Archivists; Society of Chief Librarians; The Art Fund; The National Archives and Visit England also contributed towards the development of the manifesto.