Page 110 - RPS Awards 2023 Coverage Book

ACE’s 10-year strategy. We know some of it is long overdue. However, unfortunately,
there are deep fears.

Eat Out to Help Out cost some £849m for one month alone. If any government addresses the
cost of living crisis by subsidising the hospitality sector, the arts should get a similar deal.

The pressures on defunded organisations have already made headlines, and let’s not
overlook those who never had public funding in the first place, nor the many
organisations supported for now but already worrying about the criteria they must fulfil
by the next funding round. Another worry is that London till now remained one of the
world’s cultural jewels, and for the entire nation to prosper we need London to prosper.
The levelling-up agenda needs to support equitable investments in culture across the
UK but not to London’s detriment. Post-pandemic, there is concern nationally – as all
our cultural organisations must pivot their business models to audiences’ radically
changing habits in terms of attendance and philanthropy – that nobody is listening to
us. There is huge pressure on individual donors, and Trusts are greatly stretched with
every charitable and social cause asking for help.

It is interesting to reflect on the words of John Maynard Keynes, the first Arts Council
Chair, in 1945.

‘The task of an official body is not to teach or to censor, but to give courage, confidence and
opportunity … do not think of the Arts Council as a schoolmaster … the artist cannot be told
their direction … they lead us to fresh pastures and teach us to love and to enjoy what we
often begin by rejecting.’

Stirring words. But too often policymakers today regard artists as “creatives” who can
be mobilised to fulfil criteria imposed upon them. Artistic excellence is not something
that we should be ashamed to champion. We shouldn’t have to think twice about saying
that Bach, for instance, was a colossus, and that his music represents some of the
greatest triumphs of human imagination. But in the current funding climate,
statements like that seem to be less than welcome or, worse still, even irrelevant.

‘Classical music policy and strategy are all over the place – but our amazing resources and
talents could work wonders if properly harnessed.’ The BBC Concert Orchestra play to an
audience of school children at St George’s Hall, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, conducted by
Alasdair Molloy. Photograph: Si Barber/The Guardian