Page 107 - Studio International - July August 1975

interested in art. It could, of inclined to consider the formal the Minister for the Arts that Paul Overy
course, be argued that historically value of works by lesser-known collectors should value their own Art critic for The Times.
the collector played an important artists. In its last annual report works for the purposes of the tax Caroline Tisdall
part through his patronage of the Arts Council made reference has everything to commend it, so Art critic for The Guardian.
living artists, and, later, through to the financial difficulties faced long as it is coupled with the
his contributions and bequests to by many artists as a result of the proposed statutory option for the
the museums. There are still a cutback of teaching posts in the Government to purchase at the Correspondence
very small number of large-scale art schools. The Wealth Tax valuation.
collectors who are motivated could have some beneficial effects Such a system would reduce the Tate Films
more by their interest in the on this situation, since collectors tendency to abuse and under- The importance of rigorous
formal value of the works they would be encouraged to look for valuation. If some system of critical appraisal at this stage in
acquire than by other factors. something other than investment appeal was also set up, the the development of an
However, in recent years the potential. interests of the private collectors Independent Cinema cannot be
social role of collectors on a large It should, however, be and those of the remainder of the overstated. There are too few
scale, as a group, has changed recognized that the introduction population could be adequately writers dealing with this area of
considerably. The rapid of the Wealth Tax will lead to a safeguarded without the need for film making (which is far wider
expansion of the market in art, relative decline of the existing an army of Government valuers. than is generally acknowledged)
and the escalation of the tendency private sector in the patronage of and still fewer art magazines
to deploy the art work as an the visual arts. The Minister for (3) CONCLUSION publishing regular reviews of
investment, have made the Arts has made it clear that independent film screenings.
comparisons with previous when this occurs he would like to The Government's proposals as STUDIO INTERNATIONAL, however,
historical eras untenable. stimulate the interest of the small laid out in the Green Paper have is one of the exceptions to this
In his recently published purchaser in the contemporary been described by some collectors rule, notably with Malcolm Le
autobiography, Lord Kenneth arts. Such purchasers, who might as a tax on 'culture', and even as a Grice's monthly column 'Vision'.
Clark, himself a former collector, be expected to acquire one or two tax on `good taste'. This is In March of this year the Tate
discussed the corruption of the works of art for their homes, nonsense. In fact, if implemented, Gallery, in conjunction with Deke
practice in the post-war years. would not be motivated by the proposals would lead to an Dusinberre, organized a
`Collecting', he concluded, 'has investment potential - and, of extension of the access to, and comprehensive screening of an
now become, like the Stock course, if such interest could be appreciation of, the works of art area of Independent Cinema
Exchange, a form of gambling and encouraged it would be to the situated in this country. Not only concerned with film in relation to
of tax evasion.' Peggy advantage of living artists. would the quantity of works landscape. The programme, called
Guggenheim, a leading collector However, it may also be available to the public be greatly 'Avant-Garde British Landscape
of contemporary art, has also necessary to give consideration to increased, but the distorting Films', continued for three weeks;
written: 'A collector is someone additional forms of patronage effects of the excessively strong and although it indicated an
interested in art for his own self- through the State: once again, relationship between art and important change in the attitude
ennoblement. Nowadays, people this is a separate issue from the private wealth would be of gallery organizers towards
buy paintings mostly out of desirability or otherwise of the substantially reduced. Independent Film Makers, it was
snobbery or to avoid tax.' These Wealth Tax. However, the kind of The application of the tax to almost completely ignored by the
are the views of individuals who measures which might be works of art will ensure a fairer art magazines and critics.
have been expected to take a considered are an increase in the distribution of wealth in this STUDIO INTERNATIONAL, Mee
relatively favourable attitude presently extremely small amount country, and will eliminate the again, was the exception;
towards the collector, and his of money which the Arts Council possibility of creating a `tax publicity appeared in the `Vision'
social contribution. While makes available for the purchase haven' for private capital. column mentioned above and was
recognizing that there are some of work by contemporary However, these facts, though they followed, in June, by an article by
exceptions, artists and critics artists; or perhaps the constitute persuasive reasons for Anthea Kennedy, a student at the
continue to be concerned about establishment of a system similar favouring the application of the Film School of the Royal
the abuse and debasement of art to that which prevails in Wealth Tax to works of art, College of Art.
by the majority of collectors for Holland or, in a modified form, in should be seen as secondary in the However, I feel that it was
monetary ends. Sweden, through which a light of the social and cultural irresponsible of STUDIO
The introduction of the Wealth Government agency buys each benefits which would stem from INTERNATIONAL to publish a review
Tax will reduce the attractiveness year, for the nation, and at a such a measure. The effect that which, by implication, damned a
of art as pure investment. If there relatively low price, one work by the tax would have of making an whole area of film making on the
is a serious `cultural' role left for each artist on a national register. increasing number of significant evidence of less than one third of
the large-scale private collector, This would, of course, be a way works of art freely available to all the total screening time. The
the introduction of the Wealth of building up 'The National those who wished to view them review only covered programme
Tax will therefore make it easier Heritage' for both present and far outweighs the marginal three, and did not mention the
for him to fulfil it than in a future generations, at a relatively inconvenience that it would cause three evening programmes which
situation where the collection of low cost. to the small number of wealthy were introduced by the film
works of art is inextricably bound It has been pointed out that the collectors whose total assets makers themselves. In short these
up with capital investment. existing Wealth Tax proposals exceed £100,000. films were seen in such a way as to
might mean that a successful But this increase in access and be totally out of context. This
(E) Living artists living artist would be eligible for availability will only be fully kind of review can only be
There are good reasons for the payment of tax on unfinished realized if the Government accepts counter-productive, damaging
supposing, despite the arguments works in his studio. Since such a the Wealth Tax's essential the film maker and widening the
of the opponents of the Wealth situation would tend to have a corollary: the provision, from the already disturbing gulf between
Tax to the contrary, that the depressing effect on the creativity increased funds which the tax artist and critic.
introduction of the tax will be to of those artists affected, there will make available to the Having said this, I would like tp
the advantage of the majority of appear to be persuasive Exchequer, of more money for conclude by echoing Miss
living artists. arguments for exemption, or at the national museums. Kennedy's hopes that the Tate
The excessive emphasis on the least for special arrangements, Gallery will 'continue to show
investment potential of art in in this instance. John Berger more independent films'.
recent years has led to extreme Art critic and historian; author of However, let us also hope for a
distortions within the (F) Valuation Ways of Seeing, The Moment of more satisfactory critical
contemporary art market. A Much has been made of the Cubism, The Success and Failure response in the future: a response
relatively small number of artists difficulties involved in the annual of Picasso, etc. based on a proper examination of
command excessively high prices, valuation of works of art: this has Guy Brett the work and a fair hearing for
whereas the vast majority sell been described as 'impossible' Art critic, formerly for The Times the film makers concerned.
their work cheaply, if at all. This and 'inequitable'. However, those Richard Cork Chris Welsby
is, at least in part, because using such arguments have done Art critic for The Evening Chamberlayne Road
collectors favour those artists so disingenuously. The art Standard; Editor of NW10
who, in their view, offer the most market has never hesitated to STUDIO INTERNATIONAL. [There will be a special issue on
investment potential. The attribute prices to works of art, William Feaver Independent Film in the
introduction of the tax could lead nor have its 'experts' held back Art critic for The Observer; forthcoming Nov/Dec issue. Ed.]
to some readjustment in this from independent valuation prior formerly Sunday Times Magazine,
situation. Collectors might prove to an intended sale. The problem Peter Fuller Chichester Judging
less inclined to make decisions on that the Government faces would Art critic, contributor to 1 sent a painting to the
the basis of the future exchange- therefore be an administrative Art & Artists, Arts Review, The 'Chichester National Art
value of works of art, and more one. The proposal put forward by Connoisseur, New Society, etc. Exhibition', currently being held
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