Blair and the Arts
Tony Blair gave a speech today on the arts. It was appalling. First, his usual graceless approach means that, if you read the speech, everything good happened after 1997. Not a single mention is made of the impact of the Lottery, despite it being delivered at Tate Modern (Lottery money) and despite almost every reference to every new arts institution being one to a Lottery funded build. Perhaps this is because Blair has taken £1.2 billion out of the Lottery that was meant for the arts.
Secondly, the speech reads like one prepared from briefing. There is not feel for the arts, no passion, just a series of staccato references and passages. At one point, the real Blair refers to “art, more than any programmes of Government”. Enough said.
Thirdly, it is disappointing in its vision. All Blair can say about the future is that the cuts won’t be as bad as people think, and there’s the Cultural Olympiad to look forward to. Well, all the money for that will pay for the opening and closing displays and nothing more.
Appalling, appalling, appalling.