Isn’t it a little hypocritical of government to say on one hand 
that it wants our young people to become culture vultures, aspiring to give children access to "at least five hours of high-quality culture per week", while at the same time our talented musicians and actors face dire financial hardship which threatens their very existence?
Arts is always a soft subject to hit with savage financial cutbacks. But it is not being taken lightly. The Arts Council of England is to face a succession of legal actions if it goes ahead with cuts to many of the country’s arts venues, orchestras, independent publishers and theatre companies.
My question is, why isn’t government boosting the coffers of these organisations so culture can continue to be made available to its entire communities?
In my own immediate area, The Babylon Art Gallery in Ely is to close after £70,000 of its funding was slashed and my very favourite Arts Theatre, Cambridge has lost an annual subsidy of £176,000 from The Arts Council. It’s a terribly worrying time for all concerned.
If government was serious about its commitment to culture and had any joined up thinking, it would help support the arts so it was readily available to all communities.
And truthfully, how much of this five hours of weekly culture will be wasted on unappreciative kids while the needs of the real fans and artists are being ignored?
Those who love the arts should be properly served.
Jean_Luc and Ellee, “real fans” and “those who love the arts” should dig into their own pockets and fund the arts themselves by paying more for their tickets rather than expecting everyone else to fund their leisure time.
Should football matches be subsidised!?!
Yes, I could hardly agree more Ellee. It is our cultures and arts that distinguish us from animals.
Snafu, look at the wages footballers earn and the price of premier match tickets, they are way out of reach of the ordinary man in the street. Our talented artists earn a pittance in comparison.
I suppose it’s the usual story of not enough money to go around so whoever in charge get to choose what is sacrificed. This time the arts. Never cut their own junkets and perks though, do they?
lol Elle, don’t tell anyone, but
the government can either spend xbillions on the ‘theatre’ of war – and the military spend their wages on cars, petrol, clothing, food, etc – you know the trickle down effect economy – just like in the US or Saddam’s Iraq
the government can spend 100billions in operating ‘theatres’ and health care, and the doctors, nurses and other hospital and care staff – and the health worjers spend their wages on cars, petrol, housing, heating, food, clothing, the arts, leisure, entertainment and travel – just like the NHS in the uk and the EU
or the government can spend £100billions on the Arts Council and the Globe ‘Theatre’ – and the actors, singers, dancers and theatre staff can spend their wages ob housing, clothing, transport, heating, food, etc – just as in la la land
It seems at the end of the day Shakespeare was right – all the world is a stage and we are all just actors – some better paid, others less well paid, and others volunteers, amateurs or enthusiasts or even not paid at all
But hey who is to say which actor or doctor is the most deserving, or which play or theatre, restaurant or hospital (hotel?) is the best …
Sometimes we just go to who or where we know, whether it be for our takeaway, or our dentistry, or education, or entertainment, or holidays – whether it is the best or not – and we pay whatever we pay (whether we like it or not). Certainly paying & paying more is NOT in itself a guarantee that the wine, food, treatment or entertainment is the best, but rather simply that we have not yet tried the rest.
Ellee: I’d love to see you on C-Span standing to ask the Prime Minister this question and eagerly awaiting his response.
I agree Ellee – the Northcott Theatre in Exeter recetnly was threatened with closure after it was talked about withdrawing funding. I believe that decision has now been overturned but since when did politicians ever have joined up thinking?
You are absolutely right. This 5 hours of culture proposal sounds like some Communist dictat.
Ellee, thanks for the reply but why aren’t you calling for ticket prices for the Arts to increase if people enjoy it so much!?!
Why should my taxes fund your leisure pursuits!?! Is it tax refund for the over-taxed middle classes!?!
Clearly the ordinary man in the street enjoys and values attending football matches, it’s a free market and the taxpayer does not subsidise such matches.
Quasar9, why should my taxes be spent subsidising theatres when lower taxes mean that I can spend more on “housing, clothing, transport, heating, food, etc”
“who is to say which actor or doctor is the most deserving, or which play or theatre, restaurant or hospital (hotel?) is the best …”
The market should determine who stays in business, not some faceless committees.
Would you trust a quango to decide your weekly food purchases!?!
Yes and no – some children would never be exposed to the beauties of art and culture if not exposed to them at school. Monkey see, monkey do; children often adopt their parents attitudes and as we see, that can be a hindrance, not a benefit. The arts should be included in school life, but that does not mean they should be starved elsewhere.
I agree utterly. If you think its poor in the UK- come here to Aus…
I agree, Ellee. I fear there is little hope for a culture that does not value the arts.
It’s the same in Canada where school boards have to make cuts in certain areas – it always ends up being in the library, music, or art departments. Then again, when I see students who cannot write a proper sentence I wonder if we should go back to a more traditional style of teaching the basics.
I agree. As a musician myself I struggled to eek a living from music and had relegated myself to a full time job to pay the bill.