Nicholas Robert Hytner the 57 year old British Director of London's National Theatre has been featured in an article by Hannah Furness in the Telegraph titled ‘Talking about the arts in economic terms is 'philistine' and 'self-defeating', critics argue’ Furness states “Responding to a speech by culture secretary Maria Miller, in which she argued arts organisations must make an economic case for funding, directors warned a focus on finances was too “narrow”. Leading figures claim they have already provided convincing evidence for the “enormous” financial benefits of the arts, having put forward the argument “for years”. …Sir Nicholas Hytner, the artistic director of the National Theatre, said the economic argument was "legimate", while pointing out a “contradiction at the heart" of Mrs Miller's speech. “On the one hand she recognises with great eloquence how effective modest arts spending can be as an engine for growth,” he said. “On the other hand what she was preparing us for was a further reduction in investment." He added he was “extraordinarily wary” of all British arts being held up to the example of the profitable London theatres, with a “huge danger” of “splitting” between the South East of England and everywhere else. “Enormous cuts on the scale we have been warned about would have a really, really damaging impact everywhere,” he said. "But the bigger and immediate danger is what’s happening outside London. I would be extremely worried about this sink or swim approach. If I was outside London I would think that was the writing on the wall. “We know the worst case scenario by looking at the consequences of the repeated reduction in funding in the 80s, when 25 per cent of theatres over the whole country closed.”  Inspired by Hannah Furness, The Telegraph ow.ly/kyPya Image source BBC ow.ly/kyPw9 Worried about this sink or swim approach (May 27 2013)

 

Nicholas Robert Hytner the 57 year old British Director of London’s National Theatre has been featured in an article by Hannah Furness in the Telegraph titled ‘Talking about the arts in economic terms is ‘philistine’ and ‘self-defeating’, critics argue’ Furness states “Responding to a speech by culture secretary Maria Miller, in which she argued arts organisations must make an economic case for funding, directors warned a focus on finances was too “narrow”. Leading figures claim they have already provided convincing evidence for the “enormous” financial benefits of the arts, having put forward the argument “for years”. …Sir Nicholas Hytner, the artistic director of the National Theatre, said the economic argument was “legimate”, while pointing out a “contradiction at the heart” of Mrs Miller’s speech. “On the one hand she recognises with great eloquence how effective modest arts spending can be as an engine for growth,” he said. “On the other hand what she was preparing us for was a further reduction in investment.” He added he was “extraordinarily wary” of all British arts being held up to the example of the profitable London theatres, with a “huge danger” of “splitting” between the South East of England and everywhere else. “Enormous cuts on the scale we have been warned about would have a really, really damaging impact everywhere,” he said. “But the bigger and immediate danger is what’s happening outside London. I would be extremely worried about this sink or swim approach. If I was outside London I would think that was the writing on the wall. “We know the worst case scenario by looking at the consequences of the repeated reduction in funding in the 80s, when 25 per cent of theatres over the whole country closed.”

 

Inspired by Hannah Furness, The Telegraph ow.ly/kyPya Image source BBC ow.ly/kyPw9