Nice to read Barry Johnson taking a swipe at the idea of the arts as being Elitist. A bit ago there was a flap over this with Bob Hicks in the PORT comments but somehow I think we both came to a better understanding between us. The point being generalist news sources should really get over the idea as culture as some kind of pet of the rich. Fact is, providing cultural offerings is an essentially egalitarian and often thankless form of enhancing a diversified civic outlook that is its most healthy when it is cosmopolitan in nature. The Greeks called the inherent contention over such things Eris. Basically, in the visual arts a few artists, art dealers, curators and yes patrons work and often sacrifice to make art available to anyone who might appreciate it. It's a true case of a few serving the many something that is otherwise out of reach. It's just another form of education and I arts providers deserve the same respect as teachers. The thing with the arts is you don't stop being called a charlatan of some sort until you've done it for maybe 20+ years.


Herzog and de Meuron's Hamburg Concert Hall now has a fascinating video mixing it's current state and the computer renderings... probably a good fundraising tool!

Wow: "Fact is, providing cultural offerings is an essentially egalitarian and often thankless form of enhancing a diversified civic outlook that is its most healthy when it is cosmopolitan in nature."

That's one of the best, most succinct defenses of arts organizations I've ever heard.