Independence of arts funding from government
Description
D'Art Report: Independence of Government Arts Funding: How much influence do governments have over arts funding and how much influence should they have?
D'Art Topics in Arts Policy no.9, March 2006
IFACCA and The Arts Council, Ireland
The degree of independence that governments afford arts support is a universal concern. Debate has often centred on the choice between arts council or ministry, but such a dichotomy enormously oversimplifies the issues, particularly as so many countries have a mixture of the two institutional forms. This discussion paper was released in 2006 to IFACCA members only. It reviews the cultural policy literature and data to address two main issues relating to political involvement in arts support: how much influence do governments have over arts funding?; and how much influence should governments have over arts funding?
The paper aims to provide background to the issue of independence of arts support. It does not argue for any particular institutional model. It takes a neutral stance, looking at cultural policy models and frameworks, surveying the incidence of different approaches around the world, and summarising views about the strengths and weaknesses of the two main approaches.
A resultant discussion paper was distributed to IFACCA members only.
Publications
At Arm´s Length
Geraint Talfan Davies, former Chairman of the Arts Council of Wales, gives a graphic account of a battle to maintain the arm’s length principle in arts funding in Wales. more >
Freedom of the arts as a fundamental right under the Finnish constitution
A study that explores interpretations of the provision in the Finnish constitution that states: 'The freedom of art is guaranteed'. more >
Artistic Freedom - Anxiety and Aspiration
Issue no. 8 of 'Printed Project' brings together a range of contributors to think about artistic autonomy. more >
The Arts and State Governments: At Arm's Length or Arm in Arm?
Examines state arts agency leaders’ efforts to more firmly establish their agencies’ value to state government in a changing political and fiscal environment. Case studies of two agencies are used to illustrate a more strategic approach to public management, and to clarify some of the risks and rewards of bringing the arts and political worlds closer together. more >
Culture Vultures: Is UK arts policy damaging the arts
A collection of essays from leading experts in the UK that attempts to break the stifling consensus about arts policy today, and to challenge the increasing instrumentalism of policy-makers. more >
Subsidies to the Arts: Cultivating Mediocrity
Bill Kauffman provides his views on the USA's 'culture wars' debates, arguing against government subsidy for the arts. more >
News
Direct arts funding ‘has an Eastern European feel’, says Burnham
Culture secretary Andy Burnham has ruled out direct government funding for the country’s flagship arts companies, claiming that such a move would undermine Arts Council England. more >
Talking Musika
There is absolutely nothing wrong with government taking an interest in the arts. In fact it must be applauded. But the artists of this county want consideration of the establishment of a national arts council that is not a child of the ministry of culture. more >
Tracey Emin, Thom Yorke and Ian McKellen - please come and join my artists' parliament
The truth is that the leaner arts council had grown apart from the artists and organisations it funds, many of whom report little or no contact with their funders from year to year. more >
Creative Disloyalty
An essay by Richard Holloway exploring the relationship between the artist and the state. more >
Arts groups fear bill will `chill' free expression
A federal bill that would revoke tax credits for films deemed inappropriate by the government will open a 'Pandora's Box of censorship' that could see controversial ideas snuffed out across the arts. more >
Trisexual? Tell It to England's Arts Council
The British way of running the arts has fallen into terminal disarray. The thin blue Keynesian line that held politics apart from the arts has been eradicated under New Labour. more >
Culture group 'can rewrite rules'
The new legislation also dispenses with the much-lauded "arms length" principle which prevented culture ministers interfering with the artistic decisions of arts organisations. more >
‘Left-Leaning’ Cultural Leaders Urged to Quit
The nation's top cultural policymaker urged left-leaning leaders of cultural organizations appointed under the Roh Moo-hyun administration to step down. more >
Officials 'broke arm's-length rule' over arts funding
Government officials have been accused of undermining the well-established principle of staying at arm's length when it comes to arts funding. more >
'Posh' TV programme funding fears
The culture secretary, James Purnell, warns against applying the arts council model of funding to public broadcasting. more >
Artistic licence fees
The balance between accountability and creative freedom has fallen somewhat out of kilter in recent years. more >
Artists can influence the bigger picture as paymasters
Arts organisations hoping to qualify for public funding will in future need at least two artists on their board under proposals to be released by the Culture Secretary today. more >
Government requires artists to have practice cards
Annulled five years ago, the artists' practice card will soon return under a decree recently issued by the Government. more >
In Russia: A Battle For Control Of Culture
Prominent artists and writers, cognizant of a long, dark history of repression, have been expressing deep anxiety about the government starting to encroach on artistic freedom. more >
On culture in America
The economic numbers show that America dedicates more resources to culture than Europe, and it has more museums, movie theaters, and publishing houses per inhabitant than the culturally proud Europe. more >
'Freedom' pledge over new culture body
Scotland's new cultural funding body will be free from government intervention, the Culture Minister said in parliament yesterday. more >
Social-Democrats To Strengthen The Role Of Culture
SDP wants culture to be perceived as a composing part of state and social progress, and to stimulate creativity. more >
Why artists shouldn’t accept state funding
An illustrator argues that the cost of government funding - the loss of artistic independence - is too high a price to pay. more >
London needs to form its own arts council
The final rites were administered last week to the founding principle of British arts funding. more >
A call for separation of art and state
In a flurry of gavel banging, hissing and desk tapping, the Yale Political Union met Tuesday evening for a debate on the ties between art and government. more >
Culture bodies attack powers in new bill
Leading cultural bodies have expressed fears over the future of artistic independence in Scotland in their official responses to the proposed Culture Bill. more >
Arts Council Wales makes submission to Public Sector enquiry
The Arts Council of Wales has submitted its response to the Assembly Government’s enquiry into Public Sector Reform, highlighting implications for the national arts sector. more >
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