***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 22:28:51 +0200
   [From]: "PEACE" <ami_iss@netvision.net.il>
     [To]: "Cultural Exchange via Internet" <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Re: [forum1] Public Funding of Art

Hi,
Susan wrote:
"Public funding for the arts has not necessarily gone on since the days of Ur"
Sorry Susan, yes it has - pretty literally.
Most of the works of art in Ur were financing by the public treasury - or by the prince/king, which was the same thing. The Pyramids of Egypt and all of the temples likewise. The Roman emperors commissioned buildings and scuplture and supported poets (or got them arrested).  The art of Ancient Rome reflected the tastes of Divi Augustus fully as much as the art of Modern Brooklyn reflects the taste of Divi Guiliani.
Art has often survived by patronage - either of the ruler, or of the rich,
and has reflected their tastes. We are lucky that the elector of Brandenburg liked counterpoint - else we would probably have been deprived of much of Bach.

Susan wrote:
"...Mayor Giuliani should not have attempted to do so...."
Of course Giuliani "should not have attempted.." That is like saying that the wolf should not have attempted to eat little Red Riding Hood's grandma. He shouldn't have, but that is the nature of the beast. Wolves eat grandmas and  politicians meddle in art exhibits, education etc. though they have no business there. In this case, it seems that  there was a specific proviso allowing such interference (what a strange idea - how did it get there?) but even had not been such a proviso, if there is no proviso that prevents Giuliani or some other person from interfering they will - and they have on numerous occassions in different places.