Arts funding is always a vexed question.

Most local authorities are constrained by immediate budget pressures, so they always ask what things are going to cost. In the case of the arts, it is the wrong question.

The question should be, "how much profit are we going to make on our investment?"

It is an indisputable fact that investment in the arts stimulates local economy, gives a feel-good factor, brings in tourists, and more importantly, brings money into the local economy.

I have just come back from a week's holiday in Barcelona. It is a magnificent city, beautiful, great weather, sea coast and teeming with culture.

The genius architect Gaudi has put his stamp on the city, but it is a place that also has some of the best galleries I've ever seen, including Dali and Picasso, one of the most exciting festivals imaginable (with virtually everything free), and public art everywhere, often in very surprising places.

The city just shouts culture' - and surprise, surprise, it is one of the most desirable and exciting destinations in Europe.

People flock there, and the art contributes hugely to their experience.

In case you think it's just for tourists, we visited the Museum of Contemporary Art on Bank Holiday Monday.

The museum is built around a huge pedestrian square, and outside, free paint, palettes and brushes were being distributed.

There were at least 100 families painting and creating works of art'. It warmed the cockles of the heart.

Chris Jaeger is Chief Executive of Worcester Live