Various early frothy-and-frothing responses to a leak of the government’s ‘cultural economy’ positioning paper…
“The government cannot create culture” in Guardian blogs…
“This cultural boom began without anyone planning it or even wanting it. Artists and collectors – the private sector – made it happen in the early 1990s and the rest of the world has spent more than a decade catching up. Now, with all these pompous “initiatives”, the government is crudely trying to associate itself with something for which it can claim no credit whatsoever. In fact, the most likely outcome of such interference is slow death.”
“Brown proposes cultural Stalinisation” in The Telegraph…
“in reality [ the proposals ] will be a wicked attempt to have the state interfere in every aspect of our artistic life. … The outrage this provokes is so extensive, so profound, so sulphurous that it is hard for any right-thinking person to know where to start. But let us have one more dollop of screaming, catatonic rage before we try…”
Ninja-blogger Iain Dale has video commentary via an interview with the author of this article.
“Cruel Brittania” in The Times…
“in attempting to draw a line around the whole creative universe, and bureaucratise it, his former adviser Mr Burnham has produced a draft document that looks likely to create more work for management consultants than struggling artists. … [ in the ] apparent belief that government can engender creativity, and a tendency to channel slender resources into quangos. That is not creative, it is naive.”
And West Brom Blog does some sums on the “five hours of arts & culture per week” idea for school children…
“…the government has set targets for five hours of sport, five hours of numeracy, and five hours of literacy. Now, considering the average school week is just twenty-three hours, this additional five hour [arts] target will leave just three hours for geography, history, science, Business/IT studies, music, and foreign languages. Oh and don’t forget Citizenship class or the newly compulsory cookery lessons. And Gordon wants personal finance lessons too. Are there enough hours in the day?”
