It is interesting to note that, while she was definitely a champion of free enterprise and often repudiated government subsidies, Margaret Thatcher was not necessarily an enemy of the arts as many people might think. True, when she came to office, she cut funding to the Arts Council by almost 5%, but towards the end of her last term, the cuts had been reduced to less than 3%. While here in the UK we are facing similar dilemmas today, it is the charisma of Dame Margaret Thatcher that not only kept the arts alive in the UK, but her persona actually inspired a lot of works which ultimately contributed to the art scene in general.
Using Andrew Lloyd Webber as an Example
It might be pure coincidence that the rising popularity of Mr. Webber coincided with Thatcher’s term in office. His worldwide success gave tremendous credibility to the UK theatre scene, not only attracting thousands of visitors to London and other cities to see some of his plays, but also allowing them to be exported to other countries such as the United States. Thatcher loved using Webber as an example of entrepreneurial spirit, exactly the type of approach that she wanted artists of all kinds in the UK to embody. During the 1980s, musicals were the leading stage product, and Andrew Lloyd Webber was arguably the king of this medium. Many theatre companies began to believe that musicals were the way to survive, which one could argue was a fairly limiting view and kept other forms of artistic expression from being fully developed.
Transforming the Arts Council
It was also during the Thatcher years that the Arts Council went from being just an independent organisation to an important government entity. It has relished that role ever since and has contributed in the last few decades to important funding that has benefited artists from every medium. In a sense, it is almost counterintuitive: going from private to public? It doesn’t really sound like the Thatcher model, and yet it proved to be a very smart move. Dame Thatcher also provided a lot of inspiration for serious dramatists and humorists who produced many pieces, which, although may have been somewhat politically scandalous, ultimately always presented Thatcher as the dominant figure of her time – which, arguably, she was.
Producing Your Own Work
Naturally, you don’t have to be a playwright or a dramatist to produce great works of art. More often than not, you just need some great supplies to produce beautiful paintings or sculptures which reflect your own distinct style and point of view. You will be able to find everything you need by visiting jacksonsart.com, all at quite affordable prices and with a wide selection. No matter what medium you prefer to use, you can find everything that you need to create your artistic vision.
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