RE: [microsound] the political economy of patronage

[David Fodel <DFodel@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

tad wrote:

"There hasn't been much talk about State funding for culture on the list.
I'd be interested in some of the European list members take on the
subject. The U.S. has a pretty interesting history that's not well
remembered."


I would love to see more discussion on this. In particular the relative
degrees of support here in the states vs. elsewhere. How does the lack of
public support here effect artists? Does too much support create a "glut",
lowering the overall quality of of artistic output? Does too little support
relegate artists to being sidelined in the game of cultural advancement?
Does competition for scarce public support make for better art/music? Or
does it merely create a structure of elitism and priveledge excluding all
but the most "credentialed" academics. Does this lack of publicly available
funding force artists with less access, to produce more mainstream output if
they hope to support themselves financially solely on their art?

David Fodel
Publishing Systems Manager
Wild Oats Markets
3375 Mitchell Lane
Boulder, CO 80301
Direct: 720-562-4831
Fax: 303-938-8474