LETTER: Backing The Arts in Taunton is not an environmental cure-all

In 2010, £5.7 million pounds was spent on the Cultural Olympics by Arts Council England and we have not one single item to show for a scandalous waste of public funds.

A number of expensive arts centres from the Public in West Bromwich to the latest causality Walsall’s New Art gallery have fallen foul of low support and take up after cash-strapped councils have failed to sustain what will always be a minority interest.

The powers that be who want their names attached to new art galleries/centres don’t care a damn about the ongoing costs of running and staffing these status symbols.

This has occurred repeatedly after initial investments of millions, and the quality of the art on offer is no guarantee of long-term success.

Often, the assumed revival of a region fails to materialise, despite the art input because those who inject the art have little or no knowledge of what art is and their objectives are purely utilitarian and pecuniary.

Perhaps before Taunton decides to waste thousands of pounds of tax payers or sponsors money, the commercial interests would be well advised to visit the Turner Contemporary in Margate and secure an understanding of why that particular gallery has been a commercial success when others have failed dismally.

As artist Andrew Brighton has said: “The idea that people without art are lesser or inferior beings is a ridiculous assumption, a piece of moral vanity akin to a religious fanatics belief that only those of their faith are capable of real virtue.”

For many, the issues which preoccupy the post modern urban art elites, multiculturalism, egalitarianism, feminism, environmentalism and the other right on attitudes do not preoccupy them, they don’t have the time.

There are millions of people who live happy and fulfilled lives without any engagement with the arts. The arts do not guarantee anything, they are far too ephemeral.

JOHN NUTT
Parish Councillor
West Buckland