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The Victoria Symphony Debates Arts Funding

by Jared

September 9, 2009 at 9:42 am
Tagged: Art, bc, Politics

I am not permitted to share my opinion on arts funding in BC, but I am enjoying this exchange in the Times Colonist:

Marcus Handman was executive director of the Victoria Symphony until 2008, when he jumped ship to the film industry. Handman says arts organizations should suck it up and increase efficiency. Mitchell Krieger has a background in opera and was managing an American playhouse until he replaced Handman at the Symphony. Krieger says the government shouldn’t cut funding.

I’d like to expand on Krieger’s historical references, though:

• Ancient Greek plays were mostly exhibited in religious festivals. Since Athens was a theocracy this could be considered government funding.
• In Mozart’s early career he was a court musician but he is famous for not having a patron: his prime source of income was public ticket sales, which proved insufficient for his lifestyle.
• Beethoven’s patron was Cardinal Rudolf.
• Shakespeare’s patrons were aristocrats, effectively the government in feudal times.
• Almost all Michelangelo’s commissions were of the Church but he also produced art for upper-middle class individuals. David was, ironically, commissioned by a textile business association.

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