Someone sent me this article by Keynes celebrating the Arts Council in the Listener shortly after World War II had been won in Europe.
A world away, and worth a read.
Someone sent me this article by Keynes celebrating the Arts Council in the Listener shortly after World War II had been won in Europe.
A world away, and worth a read.
Lord Keynes:
“We look forward to the time when the theatre and the concert hall and the gallery will be a living element in everyone’s upbringing, and regular attendance at the theatre and at concerts a part of organised education.”
Oh dear, that worked a treat, didn’t it. Of course, being the dilettante that he was, I guess he simply didn’t notice that the English people had continued their attendance at “the theatre” (aka Music Hall entertainment) and “at concerts” (aka rock concerts and festivals) quite unaffected by his affectations.
But good luck to him: he knew what he liked and he wanted us all to like it too. Which I think is something we used to describe as ‘conformity’ – or do you think he would have campaigned for “organised education” to include study of the Beatles, Rolling Stones et al alongside Beethoven, Bach and Mozart … and perhaps even Lloyd Weber who, if Keynes were still alive, we’re all sure he would have considered a suitable companion of the aforementioned..