Things run politically become political

It seems odd to us that we’ve got to point this out to an actual adult. But still:

Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center should serve as a warning to UK arts institutions

OK

Culture is not immune from the advances of the hard right – but it isn’t too late for resistance

What Ms. Higgins is describing as the “far right” appears to be about the middle ground of current electoral politics. But everything does change dependent upon one’s standpoint after all.

The thing we find it difficult that others do not grasp is that if something - say, culture - is funded by politics then it is going to be political. That’s just how things work. Anything driven by politics, controlled by politics or funded by politics will become a political thing itself. That’s just how the system works.

The only way to have non-political culture is to have culture that is not tax-funded and is therefore outwith the remit of politics.

Thus the solution is to close down the Arts Council immediately and in its entirety. But then that’s something worthwhile in and of itself of course.

Tim Worstall