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( Why Arts Funding ® should say no to Arts & Business President: Nutmeg House HRH The Prince of Wales Instrumentalism Gainsford Street Design Form by Butler’s Wharf Chair: London SE1 2NY Baroness Helena Kennedy QC Claire Fox

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Company Secretary: Martin Williams Arts & Business aspires to be the Preface world’s most successful & widespread Colin Tweedy creative network. We help business Claire Fox is the director of the Institute Fox questions who it is setting these people support the arts & the arts of Ideas (IoI), which she established to targets, or in turn making the policy? create a public space where ideas can If it is the Treasury then to who is this inspire business people, because good be contested without constraint. Claire Governmental Department ultimately initiated the IoI while co-publisher of the accountable? Is the electorate asking business & great art together create controversial and ground-breaking current them how to run arts policy or indeed affairs journal LM magazine (formerly aware that they are more or less doing a richer society. Living Marxism). The IoI has since worked so? If they are providing or agreeing PSA with a variety of prestigious institutions in targets how can any locality really specify Britain and abroad. The most high profile what they want the arts to achieve in of these is the Battle of Ideas, which falls their own patch? Yes, she recognises, in the last weekend of October, and I there has to be a culture of accountability, heartily recommend it to anyone with a mechanism whereby people can ask an appetite for wide-ranging, serious and see how a democratically elected and free-thinking debate. Arts & Business government is spending their money? always welcomes such debate, hence But has it gone too far? Some sense this series of Future Culture essays. there is a troubling trend at play and Claire presents this in a compelling Claire has a particular interest in and fiery way. education and social issues such as crime and social exclusion. Claire is also As she acknowledge, hers may be a a passionate supporter of the arts, and dissident voice, but I doubt this troubles strongly believes that they should be her. Claire makes valid points and her valued for their own sake. counter-blast should not be ignored, though I sense investing in the arts may At a time when even Bryan Appleyard always involve self interest, from buying confesses he is finding arts funding an a ticket, positioning a brand, to achieving interesting debate, it was only right to immortality by having a wing named invite one of the UK’s most dynamic after you. commentators to contribute the fourth essay in A&B’s Future Culture series. The funding environment is changing and Arts & Business has to be receptive Claire argues that efforts to dilute the to a critique and increase the circle of arts for the benefit of the socially excluded discussion. There are serious issues at are patronising rather than democratic play here. The recent Taking Part survey, and questions why we have become so a study of how people spend their leisure obsessed with the instrumental arguments. time, revealed that a massive three Why aren’t we investigating, questioning quarters of the population are attending and celebrating what culture actually does arts events or enjoying artistic activities. in and of itself far more? If it is all about This is good news, but the scale of the the money, would this confident approach private sector contribution to make this lead to better funding possibilities for the happen is too often neglected. arts as a whole? Essay Claire Fox

Arts & Business is not looking to minimise This essay is intended as a provocation, Let me introduce people in the arts to a the need for public sector funding for the an attempt at reposing and opening up little noted phenomena. Sport for sport’s arts. We believe categorically in a plurality the debate about arts funding. It is to Arts sake is as unpopular in policy wonk circles of funding. A&B’s research proves that & Business’ credit that they invited me to as art for art’s sake. When you look at the there is more than an association; there write it, knowing as they do that I may well Mayor of London’s website promoting the is a causal link between increased public critique some sacred cows and challenge positive benefits of the Olympic Games subsidy of the arts and a healthy private some of their own core practices and — ‘sport’ is not mentioned. Instead the sector contribution. With the immediate arguments. I hope readers — including arrival of the Olympics is presented as future of public subsidy for the arts politicians and business leaders — will a chance to bolster policing, education, unknown, there is still time to influence congratulate them for allowing a dissident housing, planning and development, policy and win the argument this time voice into the debate rather than holding transport, the health of the nation and around for the arts. them responsible for any of my arguments. even a reduction in CO2 emissions. Sport doesn’t get a look in. Meanwhile Gordon By recognising and celebrating the role The Olympics challenge Brown has proclaimed his “great ambition of the commercial sector and the role of for 2012” is “a nation fitter in health and individual supporter, we can avoid any The Times’ Ben Macintyre put the boot stronger in civic spirit”, suggesting the dependency on a single line of finance, into philistine politicians when he wrote Games are an ideal way to tackle youth and find more effective ways; new ways “Ministers are only too happy to be spotted obesity and to increase volunteering 2. — be they showcasing artists as cultural at sporting events, and use political entrepreneurs, making venture philanthropy rhetoric... peppered with cheap references The treasury has regularly heralded 2012 work for the arts, new tax policies, sign to the latest football or cricket match. But as a means of achieving a whole range of posting responsible cultural business when did you last hear a Labour politician ‘non-sporty’ ends from urban regeneration practice — to bring better resources to refer to the ballet?” 1 Macintyre is not alone to economic prosperity; indeed it lists many the arts. Indeed in the next two months in suggesting that populist politicians are of the same outcomes that the arts have Arts & Business will launch a major happy to move money from artistic projects tried to claim as their own over recent years. initiative to stimulate major giving in the to sport because the latter is more in tune Therein lies the rub. In publicity for this City of London. Arts & Business has the with popular taste than opera and ballet. year’s Museum and Galleries Month crucial knowledge, pioneering ideas and There has been much chagrin in the arts (MGM), we are told “new museums and research capability to show us all how to world at Tessa Jowell’s announcement that galleries have contributed to the economic embed a corporate cultural responsibility. lottery funding to the arts and heritage is and social regeneration of industrial to be slashed by £190 million to pay for cities”. But if the millions that have been Let us know what you think of this the ever-spiralling costs of the Olympic spent on Tate Modern or the Lowry Centre essay or other aspects of A&B’s debate, Games. The prevalent explanation for in Salford or the BALTIC in Gateshead are by visiting: what Macintyre describes as, “robbing justified less as arts projects and more as artistic Peter... to pay sporty Paul” is that keys to regeneration, how can the arts www.AandB.org/futureculture this government has never believed in the world object when another competing bid arts in the same way they believe in the to regenerate a different desolate inner city power of sport. But this is a misguided area comes along? Hence arts and sports assessment. In fact, government is looking find themselves competing — not as to the Olympics to deliver almost identical discreet public goods or ends in their own outcomes as those they have demanded right — but as interchangeable instruments of the arts over recent years. promising to deliver on a set of identical priorities laid down by government diktat. In 2005, a series of publications spawned the arts have been asked to deliver on by a rather unwieldy partnership of: Sport a range of economic, social and political England/ the Home Office/ the DCMS and ends. Policy documents such as the the Local Government Association (LGA) 2001 ‘Libraries, Museums, Galleries and entitled Sport playing its part was published. Archives for All: Co-operating Across the They were aimed at “guiding and supporting Sectors to Tackle Social Exclusion’ made policy makers and practitioners” to use the approach explicit. In the same year sport more “proactively” to support “the the new utilitarianism was summed up by delivery of the shared priorities of central Tessa Blackstone, in her first ever speech and local government”. And guess what? when Secretary of Arts. She asked, “This subservience by the These had little to do with sport per se. “Can the arts be more than just frivolous, arts to external demands Rather sport is described as a useful trivial, irrelevant?” She then went on to may appear to be a canny “engagement mechanism, to build present ever more instrumental social relationships with hard to reach individuals demands: “I am in no doubt that the arts way of accessing funds, and groups”. In a quote that bodes badly can contribute to improving healthcare but it means walking for those who dream of breaking records outcomes... better employability and straight into the or winning gold, government quango employment... the position of disadvantaged Sport England declares that “Sport isn’t groups... there’s increasing evidence that ‘instrumentality trap’.” just about winning medals, scoring points the arts can play a role in both crime and lifting trophies... it has a much larger prevention and reducing re-offending...” part to play in building stronger, safer general, the DCMS specifically and even More importantly, we show what we can communities, strengthening the economy The instrumental trap arts institutions, have fought shy of arguing do if the government is prepared to and developing the skills of local people, for the arts in their own terms. Those of increase its commitment... In return, meeting the needs of children and improving Since then, instrumental demands from us who have put the case for ‘art for arts we are seeking commitment from everyone’s health”. government and its agencies that the arts sake’ have been accused of elitism and government that it values the contribution deliver measurable results for a range of dismissed as cultural snobs, out of tune that culture makes to learning and A flurry of similar central directives have non-artistic agendas, have dominated the with the new order. education, creativity and economic vitality, all pushed the same message, such as the arts debate and the allocation of funding social regeneration, health and community ODPM’s Teaming Up — How joint working in a wholly malign way. The problem is well Unfortunately, Tessa’s remarkable cohesion and that it will place the cultural between sport and neighbourhood renewal described by Culture Secretary Tessa recantation did not inspire the arts to come sector closer to the heart of public policy ” 4. practitioners can help improve deprived Jowell in her 2004 mea culpa: Government out fighting. Instead arts organisations areas and Sport Activities and Youth and the Value of Culture. Jowell admitted continue to speak the same instrumental This subservience by the arts to external Offending 3, while the Sports Council for that too often culture has been debated language back to government to stake demands may appear to be a canny way Wales was given £8million of lottery funds “in terms only of its instrumental benefits their claim for money. In 2007 seven major of accessing funds, but it means walking over 5 years to set up a Social Inclusion to other agendas... explaining — or in arts bodies teamed up to produce Values straight into the “instrumentality trap”. in Sport forum. some instances almost apologising for — and Vision: The Contribution of Culture. This approach to funding is short-sighted our investment in culture only in terms of In this statement they cravenly propose and will inevitably backfire. It is often Sound familiar? Of course it does something else”. She also conceded that: a new settlement that means even more assumed that those of us who argue because this litany of social engineering “We have avoided the... difficult approach of the same: “We demonstrate... our against instrumentalism — what Peter priorities set for sport is almost identical of investigating, questioning and celebrating contribution to the public realm, and the Hewitt, Chief executive of Arts Council to those demanded from the arts. The what culture actually does in and of itself”. national economy, and show how we England (ACE) has described as an “old elephant in the room is instrumentalism. While it is not clear whom the “we” in this have responded to the cultural investment sterile” debate — are driven by abstract From the early days of New Labour’s reign, refers to, it is true that New Labour in that the government has already made. principles. I make no apology for being principled. But the problem is that the to sport (“whatever the players ability”?), and Creativity: the Next Ten Years, many connected and critical to the futures of very orthodoxy of instrumentalism is it doesn’t take a philistine to note that felt relieved. Perhaps the philistinism of communities the length and breadth counter productive, and allows the arts sports activity is likely to be better for Thatcherism, with the demand that the of the United Kingdom” 6. to be cast to one side when a better offer your health than watching the ballet or arts offer value for money and deliver the comes along. This is the instrumental trap. visiting the British Museum. Moreover, so-called 3 Es: economy, efficiency and More broadly, unclear how to justify the if politicians are strapped for cash and effectiveness, might be at an end. Even value of art for its own sake in the face of Competing instrumentalities want to improve health-care, they’d when it became apparent that the newly cultural relativism, cowed by the accusation probably be wiser to invest in medical formed Department of Culture, Media and that high art is elitist and wracked with The new ‘favouritism’ shown towards staff rather than to rely on the local Sport (DCMS), would not champion the angst and self doubt about how institutions the Olympics gives us an insight into the football coach, never mind the local arts per se, but would rather make its conceived in the enlightenment tradition problem. Once the arts are merely a tool curator in Egyptian antiquities 5. own demands, the arts were grateful that could face down post-modernism and for delivering prescribed economic or social at least they were being courted by the relativism, the role as social includers outcomes, there are not obvious reasons Arts sidelined and defensive political elite. provided a dynamic raison d’etre 7. why they rather than their competitors — who invariably claim to deliver the same How did competing instrumentalities Under the leadership of Culture Secretary It could be argued this strategy — ends — should be favoured. We have become so embedded? Perhaps Chris Smith, the explicit market-orientated however defensive — worked. Certainly the unsavoury spectacle of competing surprisingly, what has amounted to a bean-counting became cloaked in the money has poured in to the cultural instrumentalities. sustained attack on the intrinsic value of radical language of social policy. This sector during the Blair years. But at what the arts has created little backlash from chimed with the arts’ own preoccupations. cost? It is true that £150 million has been To illustrate this point, let’s take a specific those at the heart of culture. Of course Interestingly back in the 1980s and invested in English regional museums example. Which agency can best deliver many in the subsidised cultural sector before through such bodies as Theatre through the government’s Renaissance on the healthy communities agenda? have reacted against the more crass in Education, it was cultural bodies them- in the Regions programme. But why? According to the DCMS website “engaging attempts at casting arts’ institutions in selves who began to promote the arts The programme amounted to patronage with the arts can impact on the health of this new role. There is particular resentment as tools for new political and social ends, with strings and needless to say these individuals and communities, reducing at the more heavy handed monitoring partly as a defence against Thatcher. had little to do with treating these recovery times and preventing illness by mechanisms used to collect evidence of More significantly, many in the arts institutions as museums or storehouses improving quality of life”. Needless to say social inclusion effectiveness. But while establishment have rather relished their of objects of historical or artistic interest. the same claims are made for sport. The arts organisations have grumbled about new role as “potential... agents of social If government has generously given out Department of Health’s Football and Health excessive government interference, we change”. Having felt under-appreciated money to arts projects, we need to be guidelines suggest that the ‘mass appeal’ have not seen a concerted rebellion by the previous regime, they welcomed honest that museums, theatres and of football “can be utilised to reinforce from this quarter. This muted response the unprecedented interest from orchestras often got that money not health messages and build upon football’s is because at root, many who work in government in their organisations. Here because of the quality of creative output, track record of involvement in promoting the arts seem to have accepted that at last was a modern mission that made or for the acquisition of new art works, healthy lifestyles” because “Encouraging instrumentalism is the only way they can them feel radical and important. Peter or for nurturing new Beethovens but participation in football, whatever the justify their work, even though they would Jenkinson, erstwhile guru of the rather by promising to solve a myriad of player’s ability, is a way of contributing like to put a brake on its more unpalatable government’s multi-million pound social problems. It is certainly arguable towards health improvement to reduce philistine consequences. Instrumental Creative Partnership scheme, and before whether it was the arts that attracted the the risk of chronic diseases and can have arguments express the arts world’s lack that Director of the multi-million pound money or their promised results. This has a positive effect on mental health by of confidence in itself. New Art Gallery in Walsall summed up proved to be a self-defeating strategy. boosting self esteem”. the elation: “Suddenly we are able to When Tony Blair wrote in 2001 that the think that museums and galleries are Whatever we think about this joyless, arts were part “of the core script of this not sad, marginal locations of dust and puritanical, indeed anti-sport approach Government” in his foreword to Culture decay and heritage gloom but alive and All this begs the question, what does has resulted in culture having to find funding business think its money is supporting? from other budget holders, rather than Is it the arts themselves or the socially having an autonomous budget 14. In worthy ends the projects promise to local areas, culture is not established as deliver? This is undoubtedly one reason intrinsically a public good in its own right. why the arts are vulnerable when competing As Eleonora Belfiore has argued “cultural for CSR funds. If their support for an arts projects with explicit social aims are often project was presented as aiding the socially funded in the context of anti-poverty disadvantaged, might there not be more strategies or urban regeneration projects” “ASBOs — even prison — direct ways of achieving such an objective? so “aesthetic preoccupations are not always might be better value for As Sarah Selwood has pointed out in her the primary reason why the projects were money than the forlorn A&B essay in this series 11, if support for funded in the first place” 15. Such funding culture is merely about meeting CSR of art through the back door of social hope that gazing on a targets, there may well be other more policy or other services’ agendas, means Lowry might reform obvious initiatives “far more pressing that art itself is expendable. hooligans.” in terms of social need” or with more obviously provable benefits to Infamously last year Bury council sold its disadvantaged communities. Lowry for £1,408,000 to plug a financial gap in its other services. While arts leaders Instrumentality is certainly backfiring at were outraged, surely their criticism is Money for what? But maybe there has been confusion local authority level. Too many local councils unfair. After all local authorities have had about what private support for the arts see the arts as low down the pecking order years of listening to arts organisations While there has been plenty of money was ‘buying’. The A&B Private Investment when prioritising its allocation of funds. telling them that funding everything from sloshing about the arts world, a key Survey report notes that businesses One LGA report tells us that nationally concert halls to museums will help them question is, what has the government have increasingly aligned their funding “revenue... is budgeted to fall significantly deliver local service agreements, CPA or indeed business been paying for? for charitable causes more “closely with by over one fifth (21%)” 12. In the 2006 priorities or the more recent LAA outcomes As the emphasis of funding has been in the government’s social agenda”. Many survey of the National Association of such as helping vulnerable young people. delivering instrumental outcomes, with arts projects seeking funds are directed Local Government Arts Officers (NALGO), So when Wayne Campbell, the leader of little support for the idea that the arts from marketing to Corporate Social 75% of respondents reported cuts in real Bury, explained that his council was have a value in and of themselves, one Responsibility fund-holders. However as terms. NALGO’s Paul Kelly has predicted, selling off its Lowry because of “the real has to ask whether what funders were A&B chair Helena Kennedy states: “The “incremental cuts over several years are decisions faced by a poorly-funded public more interested in. Was it the arts per ethos of corporate social responsibility now threatening the very fabric of local authority, anxious to ensure it’s spending se or reducing crime, improving health mean businesses want to see their authority arts provision” 13. was directed to vulnerable children” 16, or tackling illiteracy? Where they merely contribution make a difference to the he was being logical. If the core outcome funding the arts as one of many devices wider community as well as the quality Why has this happened? It is popular to is helping vulnerable young people he to tackle these problems? of the arts” 9. This can mean that argue this is because there is no statutory made the right choice. After all no-one community trumps art. The Smart obligation to fund the arts locally. But this had bothered arguing for the artistic The ‘instrumentalist trap’ has been a Company, in their report for A&B, advises explanation is too technical, and avoids value of the Lowry. problem not just in public patronage, but “If you are engaged purely with the creation a more likely conclusion. Art’s inability to also in the private and non-statutory sector and / or production of art, it is unlikely stand on its own two feet means it is The arts are forced on the back foot. funding of the arts. In John Holden’s A&B that you will able to access funding constantly propped up by other agendas. Rather than arguing for themselves per essay, he tells us: “Business support through corporate CSR schemes” 10. In practical terms, selling the arts to local se, they desperately plead that they can for the arts is... notoriously fickle” 8. authorities as useful for non-artistic ends do as good a job of delivering local services as other — arguably more appropriate — consideration — is no guarantee of artistic economic growth, the arts have allowed X Factors and Fame Academies on TV agencies. But this is rarely convincing. excellence. The one billion pounds spent themselves to be grouped together with really pat themselves on the back the as When ACE’s Chief executive Peter Hewitt, on the Dome should be a salutatory a range of commercial and non-artistic the new Medicis? Is this really what the claims that “the arts and culture... militates reminder that the politicisation of culture activities under the heading ‘creative ‘golden age’ of the arts amounts to? against anti-social behaviour, vandalism can end in a vacuous disaster. Once the industries’. According to the DCMS, the and violence” and says that “investment demands on the arts are non-artistic — Creative Industries are not only Fine Art The arts community may get a warm in the arts and creativity is a good the quality of the arts is often marginalized. and the Performing Arts etc, but also glow hearing government ministers investment that will deliver, over time, a It is increasingly recognised that include Advertising, Design, Music queuing up to use a term like creativity. return many times greater than its original introducing considerations that are Publishing, Publishing, Television and After all it was once associated with the cost” 17, it is obvious that shrewd municipal extraneous to artistic activity can sideline Radio. As academic James Heartfield arts. However, as the promiscuous use bean-counters could point out that ASBOs the creation of great art and can damage has shown, early estimates of creative of the of the C word grows exponentially, — even prison — might be better value artistic integrity and aesthetic judgement. industry earnings were inflated by bundling the arts are being squeezed out of the for money than the forlorn hope that gazing Josie Appleton’s critique of a culture of together all sorts of things like computer creativity discourse altogether. One on a Lowry might reform hooligans. mediocrity in Who Owns Public Art in software (nearly half the total) with the pivotal document was Culture and Culture Vultures is instructive: “The prime arts. Claims that so many work in the Creativity — the next 10 years. In former More generally, even I, as an arts lover (as problem is that the funding set-up creative industries have relied on a rather culture minister Chris Smith’s opening well as a former social worker and teacher) encourages a new set of aesthetic and creative interpretation of the term creative: 1500 words, there are 28 mentions of am dubious whether the arts are best political criteria, based on how many of “totals of ‘creative workers’ are generally creativity, all given a variety of meanings. placed to deliver important social goods. the Arts Council’s buttons you push for exaggerated by lumping in groups of There’s creative industries, creative cities Norman LeBrecht notes that in order to measures of public engagement not the workers like swimming pool attendants and of course the much vaunted Creative justify sustaining fulltime orchestras, the quality of the work”. Norman LeBrecht and software engineers” 19. partnerships. When Creative Partnerships Listen Up project highlights “60 education notes that “in recent years, defence of launched to great fanfare and £40 million projects, 60 community projects and the orchestra has rested not so much This smoke and mirror approach to the of public money, its proclaimed mission 15 health initiatives”. He correctly asks on musical excellence as on all the other arts tries to suggest they are wealth was: “To develop long term partnerships “whether such important social benefits good works that orchestras do — prison creators rather than in need of subsidy. between schools and cultural and might not be more responsibly dispensed and hospital visits, educational concerts, Lord David Puttnam claimed “Our rock creative organisations and artists”. But by social and medical professionals”18. diplomatic missions”. At the launch of the musicians contribute more to the balance to what ends? The literature is full of Youth Music initiative, a government of payments than the steel industry” 20. instrumental, non-artistic reasons. Music Arts in denial spokesman announced its aim was to: Even the chief executive of the Royal — we’re told — can give pupils an “Establish music-making opportunities Opera House, Tony Hall, has argued that opportunity to “work together as a group The fate of the Bury Lowry indicates how as a force of regeneration in communities, arts funding should be a ‘no brainer’ if to develop team-work and increase pupils’ the arts’ desire to prove themselves as fostering social inclusion and community you put them in the “bigger... framework self esteem”. The Creative Partnerships relevant to the social agenda can devalue cohesion”. In the midst of such demands, of the creative and cultural industries” 21. website proclaimed it wanted to move art itself. If you value a painting because the quality of the music created is treated One can’t help feeling that this grouping beyond the art education model of the it can tackle unemployment or improve with contempt, a secondary consideration. of high earning industries like design past: creative learning would produce self-esteem, you have no idea what it’s and advertising — which do not need “creative employees” who would be: really worth, as art. Conversely, if selling In making a business case for the arts — government support — with ballet and “more agile and flexible” and able to a painting can raise money to pay for the another popular instrumental campaign opera that do, is because no-one believes “adapt pro-actively to challenge, ensuring social ends the arts claim to be solving, — it sometimes feels as though the arts that the subsidised arts sector can be business is ready for anything”. This might who can object? are an embarrassing secret, which needs justified unless hidden behind the have immediate instrumental appeal to to be disguised or sexed up under the razzmatazz of ‘Cool Britannia’ or profit the corporate sector but what has it Throwing money at the arts — in the aegis of that weasel word ‘creativity’. In making pop-stars. Can those corporates to do with art education? context wherein art itself is a secondary attempts at pleading that culture is key to who sponsor the endless Pop Idols, Artists for art we stand a chance. Whenever I hear arts how lucky we are as a species that, out Peter Davies has pointed out that our professionals and artists arguing for of all the hundreds of billions of us who political leaders seldom seem to appreciate So — what is to be done? I agree with funding by reeling off today’s social and ever lived, one of us managed to come the arts on a personal level: “The only A&B that we need to “Promote the value economic mantras, or spouting creativity up with the Goldberg Variations” 24. minister I ever saw at a ‘cultural event’ was of arts and culture amongst decision- jargon, they sound mechanical. Listening These advocates’ enthusiasm — let Roy Hattersley at an Ibsen play,” thundered makers and opinion formers”. The Private to people repeating the platitudes they alone the art forms they are describing Sir Peter. Ben Macintyre concurred: “I Investment Survey Report also concedes feel will tick the right boxes to access — is life-enhancing. have never spotted a politician inside a that “poor advocacy” remains an obstacle the money is a deadening and dispiriting theatre, opera house, gallery or cinema, to “increasing (the arts’) share of private experience. But when you scratch the Every August, thousands of young people unless on official business. A quick straw investment”. But let me put in a plea for surface and ask those who work in the flock to the Edinburgh Fringe festival to poll of friends and colleagues revealed how and what that advocacy should centre arts to talk about what their theatre/ perform plays they have sometimes written only a single ministerial sighting: Charlie on. The only way to gain support for the orchestra/choir/gallery actually does, or lovingly reinterpreted and staged. Falconer, once, at the opera” 27. Last year arts today is to go on the offensive and their eyes light up and they become By day they walk the streets flyering; by the Guardian’s Martin Kettle concluded re-popularise the intrinsic value of the arts. passionate enthusiasts. Unfortunately this evening they perform in bleak church halls that cuts in arts funding “would not have excitement about ART and only ART often to often sparse audiences. Why do this happened if Blair had cared more about My solution is that we need to rediscover takes place behind closed doors but we so called ‘whatever’ generation, frequently the arts himself... I rarely see many how to argue for the arts. That might sound should unleash it into the public debate. dismissed as superficial and indifferent politicians at arts events I attend... It banal, but actually over recent years, arts by their elders, bother to tread the boards, cheers me to see David Milliband in the organisations seem to have forgotten Real engagement with art is infectious. often making financial losses? It’s the art concert hall and Jack Straw at the opera... how to enthuse about what they do; I defy the most hard-nosed businessman stupid! Meet them in the bar afterwards My distaste for Nick Brown’s plotting instrumentalism seems to have sapped or local authority bureaucrat not to be or invite them to discuss their work in against Blair is slightly mitigated by his the life out of how the arts community more inspired by genuine passion rather debates 25 and they will not shut up about love of Shostakovich” 28. argues for funding. It is refreshing to see than a rehearsed lists of bland buzzwords. Ibsen, Brecht, Pinter or Edgar. Let Arts Council England launch its arts debate Read the latest Arts Council England’s Iannucci and our young thespians loose But I don’t think the numbers of — “the first ever public value enquiry”. work with Local Government document on the funders and see if they remain politicians who love the arts is the key We should always welcome as open and and you could lose the will to live. Instead indifferent. They are a reminder that it factor. After all, Gordon Brown has full a debate as possible. But we don’t listen to arts lovers such as David Ward is yet possible to build a brave new anti- apparently quoted Wordsworth and need an enquiry to know there has been describing his love affair with classical philistine society if we let art and arts Shelley in his speeches (OK, the earlier so much intellectual energy put into music, an art form that “stirs both brain lovers do the talking. Gordon Brown ones, before his Arctic Monkeys phase), displaying the cultural artefacts of excluded and heart” and can give us “intimations says he is listening. Let’s make sure the but it hasn’t stopped him wielding the groups or mounting exhibitions to aid of eternity” 23 or the dazzling speech by arts are saying something worth hearing. financial knife. What we need is a political local identity building that artists, curators, comedy writer Armando Iannucci given elite that shows due respect for the arts; musicians and playwrights seem to have to the Royal Philharmonic Society last Building an they need not parade themselves at the forgotten how to promote their core year. In it he describes how ‘difficult’ anti-philistine society theatre, can be as sporty or uncultured as purpose for its own sake. Worryingly, classical music is the opposite of an elitist they want, but what they do need to note Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive ACE, has art form, but universally open to us all. Beleaguered Tessa Jowell was forced is that a modern, dynamic society would a particularly bad case of artistic amnesia. He reminds us that “no matter where to respond to those who queued up to cheer at a thriving arts scene. A vibrant He says: “I really don’t understand what we are, whether we’re learned, in prison, harangue the government about recent civil society would invariably appreciate intrinsic value is, even less “art for art’s poor, successful, alone or average... funding cuts by writing an article artistic excellence. sake”. What do such terms mean?” 22. we can go beyond ourselves, that we’re headlined: The charge that Labour is human and are therefore dignified”. He philistine is absurd 26. New Labour’s Philistinism is an interesting motif to There is an obvious solution. If we free explains that after a concert he wants to accusers are right to shout ‘philistines’, consider. It is too often assumed that arts’ advocates from instrumentalism, grab people by the lapels and “tell them but they miss the point. Composer Sir businessmen are philistines and cannot understand anything beyond shareholders of humanity’s creations, a reflection of and bottom lines. But of course many in man’s ability to imagine and create in the corporate sector are indeed arts lovers defiance of the logic and limits of the as individuals. Lord Browne at BP may market or politics. To quote the President have hit the headlines for different reasons, of A&B, the Prince of Wales “I believe our but we know his personal appreciation of spirit and our very humanity are articulated opera may well have encouraged him to and illuminated by the arts. When I was see BP as such an energetic arts champion. young they gave me a vital introduction Helena Kennedy is a lawyer, but heads up to the world of the imagination, wherein Arts & Business because “I have a passion lies a treasure trove of memories, romance “Piano showrooms look like for the arts”. The Arts & Business Square and inspiration — an inspiration that has auto dealerships, with Mile Philanthropy Programme, which lasted a lifetime... They remain the coddled youth staging will identify and cherish art lovers in the hallmark of a civilised society 30”. City, is an exciting idea; let’s hope it thrives. impromptu recitals on But again, we can’t rely on corporate There is no doubt that most of us — Baldwins and Yamahas types being arts’ fans for funding to including the business community — made in China.” be forthcoming. would rather live in a civilized than a philistine world. That is why we need to Colin Tweedy makes an interesting be bolder and less instrumental and observation in the A&B brochure for this philistine when we appeal for funding for year’s awards: “Business people often tell the arts. According to the latest Rich List, rewards and helps the UK maintain its According to the New York Times me that they are philistines. They say this over the last year the number of billionaires creative edge”, they may think it is clever “European classical music has a charge is order to explain why they, or their increased by 14 to 68 and under New to appeal to self interest but maybe they of pop-culture frisson in China. Young company, will not support the arts... Labour the worth of the top 1000 richest are underestimating even hard-nosed people flock to concerts, or at least I sometimes muse on what they think people in the country has soared by 263%. business people’s capacity to see beyond those they can afford. A woman at a ‘philistine’ means... what is the opposite There are a lot of private patrons and the short-term. A commitment to the arts Beijing bookstore was seen carrying of philistine? The words ‘arty’ and philanthropists to appeal to as supporters would indicate a broader long-term vision Mozart’s portrait in her wallet. Piano ‘cultured’ comes to mind, but rarely the of the fruits of human civilization. for a dynamic society. showrooms look like auto dealerships, word ‘civilised’. People may not care to with coddled youth staging impromptu be seen as arty, but do they want to be If the arts were valued and paraded as The future of arts funding— recitals on Baldwins and Yamahas made seen as uncivilised?... Let us hold on to a good in their own right, any serious look East! in China, as anxious parents haggle that word ‘civilisation’ — after all, ‘civil’ philanthropist or corporation would no over prices”. and ‘civility’ come from it”. doubt queue up to gain the glow of Let’s look at the relationship between approval by association. Perhaps we economic growth and the arts in another Today’s China has around four million Helena Kennedy might be right that can take inspiration from the nineteenth country, often cited as a threat to the professional musicians and new concert “Company shareholders are much more century industrialists who magnificently west’s economic hegemony. I take some halls and opera houses are being built demanding than they once were about set up the great arts institutions we still heart from contemporary China, where across the country. According to the corporate spend; those working in these cherish today. The economic dynamism after years of neglect, classical music Chinese Musicians Association there are enterprises also want more from the of that period was accompanied by a is making a comeback, and not because an estimated 30 million piano students relationships with arts organisations than confident display of the artistic jewels of it’s useful to the economy, but because and 10 million violin students while a night at the opera” 29. But what can be that era and human achievement to date. it’s being passionately embraced by a conservatories are bulging. Hundreds offered is the reflected glory that comes When A&B say: “It is good business to society which is aspirational 31. of factories make Western musical from an association with one of greatest invest in the arts, it brings business instruments, producing 370,000 pianos, Appendix References one million violins and six million guitars. China 2008, which will feature exhibitions 1 (13th May 2007) How Labour’s 17 (12th July 2006) Arts in the core script 32 (31st October 2005) Beethoven who? 33 philistines grabbed gold. The Times. — writing ourselves in.p10. Piers Hellawell and Andrew China dominates world production of all of Chinese textiles, art and objects . But Missingham, New Statesman. three. The legendary Italian tenor Carlo maybe instead of British arts institutions 2 (25th October 2006) My vision for 18 (13th October 2004) Listen Up! http://www.newstatesman.com/ increasing young people’s participation unites 14 symphony orchestras and writers/piers_hellawell_and_andrew_ Bergonzi, one of opera’s greatest stars “engaging everyone in a celebration of in sport by 2012. 40 chamber and baroque bands with missingham now in his 80s, is working at Beijing’s Chinese culture”, we should take our unregistered members of amateur 3 (2005) ODPM, Youth Justice Board, ensembles. Cautious notes will kill our (April 2007) No such defeatism about Central Conservatoire. “My work... is to lead from China and try and rediscover DCMS and Sport England. orchestras, Evening Standard. youth – or music - exists in the East. uncover new talent, and many of the our hunger for universally great art. Master of the Queen’s Music, Sir 4 Arts Council England / The national 19 (May 2007) Blueprint. See also: Peter Maxwell Davies’ speech at the voices here today are first class... Without Museum Directors’ Conference / various studies by James Heartfield annual conference of the a doubt they are among the most beautiful Yu Long, one of China’s most well known The Museums, Libraries and Archives e.g. The Creativity Gap, Blueprint Incorporated Society of Musicians. voices in the world at the moment,” he said. conductors has explained that the barren Council / The Association of Broadsides supported by Nesta, http://www.ism.org Independent Museums / The Group 2005; A business solution for creativity, years of the Cultural Revolution gave rise for Large Local Authority Museums / not a creativity solution for business in 33 Inspiring creativity, celebrating identity Quoting statistics doesn’t do justice to to a hunger for music; when it ended, The Museums Association/ Culture Vultures edited by Munira MLA Partnership strategic statement The University Museums Group. Mirza, 2006. 2007-2010. what is really happening in China. They are people were “so thirsty to suck everything mercifully free from our own homegrown in”. Maybe we can write off the last ten 5 (2006) For a full critique of the 20 quoted by Heartfield in Culture arts and health, see The Arts as Vultures. audit culture, which measures quantity barren years of UK instrumentalism as Painkiller by Munira Mirza in Culture and downgrades quality. Instead their our own version of the Cultural Revolution. Vultures — Is UK arts policy damaging 21 (March 9th 2005) Arts are crucial for the arts? Edited by Munira Mirza UK economy, says opera chief. Guardian. politicians seem to view the arts as a This might unleash a society eager to Policy Exchange. mark of civilization. Li Lanqing, a former “suck everything in”. I believe the thirst 22 (12th July 2006) Arts in the core script 6 RSA 1999/2000 lectures Regeneration: — writing ourselves in. The Smith minister of education and member of the for the arts exists at all levels of society can culture carry the can? Institute Arts Lecture. ruling Politburo Standing Committee here as well as in China — if only we go 7 For a fuller exploration of this 23 (11th April 2007) Peter Maxwell was wrote a lengthy, loving tribute to 50 Western out and let people know of the wonders theme, see Museums for the People? right to damn the philistines. Guardian composers in which he argued that you on offer without apology. Let’s use the Josie Appleton Institute of Ideas Unlimited: Arts blog. Conversation in Print 2001 and cannot be a true intellectual if you don’t Cultural Olympiad to show that the various articles by Tiffany Jenkins, 24 (8th May 2006) Classical Music, the understand Western classical music. disaster of the Dome is part of the arts and society director, IoI. love of my life. http://www.tiffanyjenkins.blogspot.com philistine past. 2012 is an opportunity to 25 see Institute of Ideas Roundtable Hao Jiang Tian, one of the New York build a dynamic, civilized society for the 8 Funding Decentralisation in the UK Rumbles, in association with Metropolitan Opera’s superstars, has said future. Now who on earth wouldn’t want Cultural Sector. Edinburgh Fringe and C Venues http://www.instituteofideas.com/ that “the future of classical music will be to fund that? 9 A&B awards ‘newspaper’. events/rumbles2003.html in China”. Meanwhile Chen Hung-Kuan, 10 (2006) Understanding Corporate 26 (15th April 2007) Observer. the chairman of the piano department at Social Responsibility — A Guide for Arts the Shanghai Conservatory, has noted Organisations. p15. 27 (13th May 2007) How Labour’s philistines grabbed gold. The Times. that classical music “is hot in China... It 11 Public Funding, Private Contributions may be fading in Western countries,” and A&B. 28 (20th May 2006) The gulf between the arts and New labour is growing wider. but in China the talent is “unlimited”. 12 Holden. Guardian. How ironic that in the west, fewer young 13 (December 2005) Arts Professional, 29 A&B awards. listeners find their way to classical music, Issue 112. because of our own lack of faith in the 30 (March 2007) 29th Arts & Business arts, the paucity of music education, and 14 see John Holden. Awards. an inability to believe the young can cope 15 (2006) The Social Impact of the Arts 31 (3rd April 2007) Classical Music 32 — myth or reality in Culture Vultures. Looks Toward China With Hope.New with the challenges of the difficult . Edited by Munira Mirza. p31. York Times by Joseph Khan Here in the UK, the Museums Libraries 16 Arts Professional Issue 130. Daniel J. Wakin and Classical music takes Chinese stage. BBC News, Beijing. and Archives Council (MLA) has launched Daniel Griffiths. ) www.form.uk.com ( ®

Arts & Business President: Nutmeg House HRH The Prince of Wales Gainsford Street Design by Form Butler’s Wharf Chair: London SE1 2NY Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

Company Secretary: Martin Williams