THE STATE AND THE ARTS SIR,—It seems wrong tha.1. the
State should still be buying antique oil paintings when its galleries are already filled to overflowing with such works of art : certainly far in excess of educational usefulness. Yet extensions are being planned to house even more of them. This cult of the antique by the State is involving very considerable sums of money every year; surely it could be put to better use nowadays? For instance, in assisting British designers and craftsmen by affording them what they need most: time to develop their talent and places to exercise their skill.
Students today have to pay for food and lodging as much every month as the `Old Masters' in their student days paid in a year. It seems, therefore, right that the State Arts Council should give much more patronage and more money towards developing con- temporary art, illustrating and interpreting the life and character of the nation, and contributing to the needs of a civilised existence.
Such a change of emphasis in the policy of the Arts Council need not involve jettisoning the art of the past;. but to collect a superfluity of antique art not only penalises the arts of today financially, but inhibits contemporary artists, even to the extent of impelling them to seek recognition through mere eccentricity.
To accept the results of this mentality into our national collections is to 'ignore that beauty and har- mony are essential to the quality of any creation that is to qualify as a work of art. Even a short visit to the Tate Gallery, for instance, makes it evident that the Arts Council is already allowing this to happen. —Yours faithfully,
124 Lexham Gardens, W8
F. E. ISAAC
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