Arts funding should primarily make better art easier to see and do, says Samuel West, Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts.
Maria Miller yesterday gave her maiden speech as Culture Secretary. The main thrust was this: that the arts must play their part in our economic recovery by proving their profitability.
At first glance the speech seems encouraging, but look closer and it's impossible not to see it as a threat to cut arts funding further.
Of course artists are grateful for the opportunity to make our economic case to the Treasury. Again. But are we walking into a trap? The spending review is at the end of June. Why not ask before? Are the arts to be penalised because the case for their economic benefit hasn't already been made? And it's not only too late, it's too narrow. We need Miller to make other arguments as well: to shout about the ability of art to educate, to delight and to keep people mentally and physically healthy.
I know the Secretary of State believes in quality as well as in economic success. She must understand that nobody tries to make art that is unsuccessful. And nobody knows what will make money. Trying to make art that will make money produces worse art. Worse art makes less money. It's totally backwards.
Maria Miller yesterday gave her maiden speech as Culture Secretary. The main thrust was this: that the arts must play their part in our economic recovery by proving their profitability.
At first glance the speech seems encouraging, but look closer and it's impossible not to see it as a threat to cut arts funding further.
Of course artists are grateful for the opportunity to make our economic case to the Treasury. Again. But are we walking into a trap? The spending review is at the end of June. Why not ask before? Are the arts to be penalised because the case for their economic benefit hasn't already been made? And it's not only too late, it's too narrow. We need Miller to make other arguments as well: to shout about the ability of art to educate, to delight and to keep people mentally and physically healthy.
I know the Secretary of State believes in quality as well as in economic success. She must understand that nobody tries to make art that is unsuccessful. And nobody knows what will make money. Trying to make art that will make money produces worse art. Worse art makes less money. It's totally backwards.