Page 16 - Studio International - September 1971

The State and men wish it to grow; that they influence the so with cash raised from the whole body of the
quality of life in the right direction. If we take
taxpayers. So long as the amount in question is
the Arts this view—and personally I cannot imagine any small the taxpayers are not critical, for example,
better argument on which to ask for increasing
when grants were first given towards the upkeep
sums of money from the ratepayers and the of historic houses there was no outcry about the
Lord Eccles taxpayers and private patrons—then we are in greater need to repair slum property or council
the realm of value judgements. What exactly is houses. But as the annual budget for the arts
the quality of life ? Clearly it is not something grows larger—mine is now over £25 million—it
which affects a tiny fraction of the electorate. It becomes more and more necessary to lay out a
is something which must touch us all, and big slice of this money for the benefit of the
therefore it involves both the level of excellence largest possible number of taxpayers, and to
and the degree in which the arts are spread hold the balance between all those sections of
across the population—quality and quantity the population whose varied interests in the arts
—neither one without the other. It can be said might be broadened and nourished by some
that this is a wider view of the arts than has pump-priming from central funds. Attempts to
hitherto been taken by the Government. When do this could lead to spreading the available
support first began the subsidies were given to a money so thin that there was never enough to
few national activities of international maintain the national activities, like opera and
standard. We shall go on doing this, but I am symphony orchestras, at international standards.
finding a steadily rising volume of opinion which On the other hand, if practically all the available
would prefer any additional money we can make funds were used to support a handful of
available to be spent on artistic activities in activities of international standard the
which a much larger number of people, young concentration of subsidy in London and the lack
and old, can themselves take part, either of subsidy in the regions would be criticized
actively, or as a member of the audience. This and would rapidly become politically
demand for a wide spread is the background to intolerable. This is the question which
the outstanding problems which I found when requires further consideration and I shall come
taking office. And now I should like to say back to it before I end.
something very briefly about each of them and
then turn back to the central question of policy. ARTS CENTRES
It is clear from experience here and on the
GENERAL LEVEL OF FINANCE FOR THE ARTS Continent that the development of the
In finding more resources for the arts the arts-centre, as a place where a range of activities
present Government has been as realistic as are available, has a strong impetus behind it.
possible in conditions of rising costs and In this country the nucleus of such a centre
previous commitments. My vote has been could be the public library, or a museum, or a
increased more than that of other departments. theatre, or a custom-built complex as already at
In the past difficulties have arisen—and I am Birmingham, and soon to be at the Barbican. It
not blaming anybody—because in a period of seems that the influence of TV is at work
rapidly growing support for the arts the feeling breaking down the barriers between one art and
became general that if everything did not go as another. In a matter of half an hour, television
well as was planned the Government could be brings together, one overlapping the other, a
persuaded to meet the deficit. We cannot go on number of visual and sound experiences which
like this. There is no adequate reason why the could not be enjoyed either together or in so
arts should be excused from normal financial short a time by any other means. This interplay
control. Everyone concerned with the arts will of experience is causing some odd developments
do a better job if they plan ahead on a realistic in sculpture and painting, and widening the
basis in the full knowledge that if things go horizon of people who never before took much
wrong the Arts Council cannot be counted on notice of art of any kind. Now they are being
to produce an increased grant, or the conditioned to switch from one art to another.
The following is the transcript of a speech Government to introduce a supplementary vote. Perhaps this is why the arts-centre is so much
delivered to the Royal Society for the Remember Rolls Royce. We do not want to in demand. It affords opportunities for meeting
Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and have any similar situations in the arts, and the and talking to people interested in several forms
Commerce by Lord Eccles, Paymaster-General best way to avoid them is to know what your of art. The comparatively small group, whether
with responsibility for the Arts, on 12 May 1971. grant will be for some time ahead. The Prime it is the family, or a gang of friends, is now a
Minister, who is himself a great supporter of the popular way of taking one's entertainment, and
Why should any government apply arts, has always said that the country must of experiencing art for oneself.
increasing sums of public money to the support produce more wealth if we are to do more of the
of the arts ? In the past national prestige has things we should like to do in the field of the REGIONAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS
often been the dominating reason. But in a arts and in the social services. It would be Some years ago the Arts Council closed its
democracy such as we have today, one must salutary if this elementary truth were grasped regional offices and in their place Regional Arts
believe that the arts are more than a decoration by all who wish to put their hands deeper into Associations have been formed which now cover
on the tree of society. Nor can one find sufficient the public purse. the whole of England except the South-East,
reason for their support in saying that they earn and most of Wales, while in Scotland they run
a lot of foreign exchange. We shall only do what BALANCE BETWEEN THE REGIONS AND THE everything from Edinburgh. The Regional Arts
we ought to do for the arts if we base our case on METROPOLIS Associations do not, like the Arts Council,
the belief that they help society to grow as good Any government which supports the arts does concentrate all their energies on supporting the
58