The roots of the Arts Council lie in the War Artist Scheme (WAS) set up by the Ministry of Information in 1939. Back then, the government commissioned artists to reflect, not just on "the action", but also the changes the war brought to our general way of life.So begins a CiF article by Bob and Roberta Smith (no, not two people - 'Bob and Roberta Smith' is the pseudonym of British contemporary artist Patrick Brill. Yes, that's art, dahling...) on the 'savage cuts' that the coalition are threatening to make to the arts.
Of course, since we aren't at war any more, do we still need an Arts Council? Discuss.
In the arts, Britain is still a superpower. The whole world flocks to visit the Tate, the National Theatre or the Sage.Well, they'll still flock to them when they have to pay their way, won't they? If we really are an 'arts superpower' and these things have value, that is...
The current cuts to the arts and humanities spell out the end of the British people's emancipation through culture. For me, it's like ripping up the Magna Carta.I think I've figured out what sort of 'artist' we have here...
Most of the cuts are to the administration of the Arts Council. This use to be handled by a committee but has since grown into a huge bureaucracy. The settlements to the National Gallery, Tate, etc, are very reasonable (and I have some experience in this space as a personal donor to both organisations & a Trustee of a charity that supports the arts)
ReplyDeleteMore fundamentally, serious consideration needs to be given to building up endowments for the Galleries. I would rather see some of the money cut away from the Arts Council given back in the form of matching grants for endowments to allow the Galleries (where we really are world leaders - the NG is a top 5 global collection, the Tate and the RA probably both in the top 10, the NPG in the top 20) to allow them to build an independent future.
I didn't realise that socialist arts fuckwittery had started as early as that! "reflect... the changes the war brought to our general way of life"? GAH!
ReplyDeleteEnd of 2010, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteBob and Roberta eh?
ReplyDeleteDid the canny bludger get two cheques for the article too?
I don't know which Guardian I enjoyed more - this outstanding piece of luvvie hyperbole or G. Moonpigs article suggesting that "all your houses are belong to us".
ReplyDelete"Most of the cuts are to the administration of the Arts Council. This use to be handled by a committee but has since grown into a huge bureaucracy."
ReplyDeleteBureaucracies never shrink, do they?
"I didn't realise that socialist arts fuckwittery had started as early as that!"
Me neither!
I'd be fascinated to hear why a part-time shop assistant in Doncaster and a barmaid in Wrexham should be taxed so that the Great and Good can have subsidised art gallery access in London...
ReplyDelete