05 October 2007

British arts funding - final rites, or olympic transmogrification?

My particuar weakness for admiring the practices happening far from home involves yearning for them with a longing that is unashamedly transparent. At times like these (everything is greener...) a reality check or two is necessary.
This article by Norman Lebrecht titled "London needs to form its own arts council" is a kind of wake-up call:

"The final rites were administered last week to the founding principle of British arts funding. In Scotland, an aggressively secessionist government announced new laws to replace the arts council with a state-run ‘cultural agency’. Wales is mulling a similar move while England abolished any pretence of arm’s-length independence by appointing a Yes Minister official from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to be chief executive of Arts Council England, effectively its terminator."

Lebrecht's article goes on to talk about the changes in London and England, the troubles brewing (I'd call them troubles, and look forward to seeing how reactions unroll), and the need for a concerted London arts council, especially in the run up to the 2012 olympics. Good thinking Lebrecht, thanks for the mini expose.

To read the entire article, click here.

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