Tim Almond

Wat Tyler has a piece on State Funding of the Arts

Sir Nicholas Hytner: "There is not much difference between the patronage bestowed on Mozart by Emperor Josef II and what the Arts Council and the Department for Media, Culture and Sport do for arts organisations like the National Theatre today.

‘Whether you are talking about 18th-century Vienna or the UK today, the wealth that was and is handed out to the arts is the people’s wealth. And it is absolutely right that it should be spent on the arts, because a healthy society thrives on self-examination and needs to be engaged in wondering what’s beautiful and what’s truthful. "

The problem is that the Arts Council have not funded a Mozart. The impact of millions of pounds over 60 years has been insignificant in terms of the culture of the nation, whilst the free market has produced all the great art.

I go and see some state funded art sometimes. I like opera, so I shouldn’t really complain, but I don’t see why I should have my seat subsidised whilst someone at the County Ground doesn’t. They’re both highly charged entertainment.

Glyndebourne Opera manage without any subsidy, so I don’t really understand why other companies need it. Apart from getting a lot of corporate sponsorship, I suspect that Glyndebourne "makes do".

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Tags: Politics, Music, Movies //