English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

English - Essay Example Indeed, benefits to Britain’s economic vitality have been well documented. But the arts and cultural pursuits in Britain have long played a far more profound and spiritual role than pounds and pennies, one that inspires and replenishes the soul. â€Å"The arts broaden horizons, stimulate new thinking, provide pleasure and raise aspirations – they inspire and sustain the spirit. More people are enjoying the arts than ever before (76 percent in 2008-09)† (â€Å"Why the Arts Matter,† 2010). Nevertheless, a crippling economic downturn and Europe’s largest budget deficit have raised a stumbling block that may well prove insurmountable for the arts’ single greatest patron – the British government. Name 2 Background Cuts as high as 40 percent come as hard news for arts and cultural institutions nationwide, which have benefited from an unprecedented growth in government funding over the past decade. Between 2000 and 2010, there has been an inc rease of approximately ?200 million in arts funding. In London, many arts organizations receive as much as 50 percent of their funding from the government. The impact on the city’s cultural life could be massive. London’s venerable museums may have to charge admission, a move that could cut deeply into the tourism market (Faoila, 2010). MPs have expressed concern over the curtailment of artistic activities and events and have recommended a program that would reward regional philanthropy in an effort to mitigate the damage (Phillips, 2011). Britain boasts a grand, centuries-old cultural heritage: one need only stroll through Westminster, where lie Dickens, Chaucer, Tennyson and other luminaries, to appreciate the nation’s unique contribution to Western civilization. As such, the likelihood that Britain’s coalition government could drastically curtail, or discontinue, funding for Britain’s cultural institutions amounts to nothing less than a national crisis of identity. For a nation deep in the grips of a persistent recession, adopting the American model of private philanthropy may do irreparable damage to Britain’s vibrant arts community (Faiola, 2010). With no government-sponsored alternatives on the horizon, Britons is facing a permanent marginalization of the arts, not in the short term but over time, proceeding almost imperceptibly, gradually blotting out some of the brightest stars in Britain’s cultural firmament. Name 3 Shakespeare under siege One could as well imagine the pawning of the crown jewels as entertain the possibility that The Royal Shakespeare Company could fall victim to the balance sheet. But in a report to Parliament, the company warned of dire consequences should budget cuts proceed under the current plans, which make it clear that cuts on the scale proposed (25 – 40 percent) will have real and significant impact for the arts and for the audience who enjoy them. Most likely for us it will mean fewer productions, less touring, and a curtailment of the free events and educational activities which help us reach new audiences† (â€Å"Parliamentary business,† 2011). This holds dire regional repercussions, given the presence the company maintains throughout the country. More specifically, the New Vic Theater in North Staffordshire, which receives about 30 percent of its funding through the Arts Council, played host to 175,000 visitors in 2010. This is significant, since the theater earns about 60 percent of its income