Letter: Tories starved the arts first
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.VIRGINIA BOTTOMLEY is short on facts, and of even shorter memory (Letters, 22 February). The root of the crisis in the arts was the last Conservative government's failure to give inflationary increases to the Arts Council, resulting in cheese- paring funding of key cultural institutions and equal misery for all. The Tories' establishment of the Lottery merely created a massive fund for arts buildings, while leaving many companies charged with creating suitable products for them teetering on the edge of solvency. The lottery has created much work for consultants but considerably fewer opportunities for artists.
While the jury remains out on the Labour government's cultural integrity, at least it is looking at the vast imbalance between capital and revenue funding.
Paul Kelly
Plymouth
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments