Cultural Organizations and the State: Art and State Support in Contemporary Britain

Abstract

Only a small proportion of research in the sociological field of arts and culture is on the state and its effects. Literature which touches on this topic often comes from the policy arena and the wide variety of disciplines interested in public policy. Research tends to focus on two key themes: funding and censorship. But the effects of state actions are much broader. Moreover, state support is often set in opposition to the market, but markets and state systems usually exist together. It is ironic that the effects of the state on cultural organizations are increasingly studied at just this point in time, when states are scaling back their involvement and privatization is coming to the fore. Focusing on cultural organizations usually associated with the fine arts (museums and performing arts organizations), I illustrate some of these themes with a discussion of recent events in the UK.