Arts Council grants
sir: `God damn the Arts Council of Great Britain' writes Mr Auberon Waugh at the end of his page of vituperation (27 November). This, on the ground that he does not like the work of the Literature Department, which is, of course only a part, and a small part at that, of the total work of the Arts Council.
I would like to make just two comments. First, that Mr Waugh repeats here for the umpteenth time the falsehood that Arts Council grants to literature are given Personally by Mr Charles Osborne, the Literature Director. As Mr Piers Paul Read Wrote last week, they are in fact decided by a Panel of people whose literary expertise is at least equal to that of Mr Waugh and this panel's decisions are further subject to the supervision of the full Council. All this he knows, but refuses to acknowledge. At least your readers should know that Mr Waugh's boring hate campaign against Mr Osborne is quite irrelevant to a consideration of Arts Council literature policy.
Second, may I simply point out that although Mr Waugh's judgments on the quality of Arts Council publications are always given ex cathedra they are not really infallible. Others may and do disagree With him and that does not automatically Make them, as he seems to think, contemptible idiots. As the season of goodwill approaches may I Say: God Bless Auberon Waugh, and may he be led to write with more accuracy and less arrogance.
Roy Shaw
Secretary-General,
The Arts Council of Great Britain, 105 Piccadilly, London W1
Sir: Since a very large part of Mr Auberon Waugh's income must derive from his attention to the Art Council and the luagazines it subsidises, he should be extremely grateful for their continued existence. Where would he be without
them.) Alan Ross
30 Thurloe Place, London SW7
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