[NewMusic] Ribot rant and subsidized spaces in Europe

[Sarah - 21 Grand]

Without a doubt, the illustrious Ms. O'Kane could swiftly articulate and
encapsulate the various issues and positions in relation to this issue in
her sleep, and maybe will do so here.

So I'm not going to go on at length ... but in summary:

Europe has:
- a more homogenous population both ethnically and economically
- governments that play larger roles in culture (there is a powerful segment
in US Society that believes government should only be fixing roads and
fighting wars with the rest left up to private enterprise)
- higher taxes that go to said government
- a history of centuries of autocratic rule - such that there is more
acceptance of a powerful elite dictating "official culture" or "what is good
for the people" (involving the arts, music, etc.)

In terms of government subsidies and policy:
Basically there are two things at play - a good example is the NEA back in
the 80s/early 90s 
1. setting the policy and the interests and agendas of those who create it
(e.g. we are establishing a city/regional/federal arts agency that gives $x
to creative work to make benefit glorious city of Oakland or whatever)

2. the agendas of those who interpret the policy (e.g. the ones selecting
who gets money each year)

- So you can have an enlightened cultural policy that say, supports
improvised music, but often the devil is in the details: who is getting the
money? Is it you or is it Ken "MacArthur Genius" Vandermark?

Often money will go to people/organizations that are already established
(everyone loves a winner/bet on the sure thing), or is serving some other
significant function (e.g. educating kids, eliminating poverty, keeping the
natives from getting restless), or is retreading familiar ground that is
already established as being "important."

That said, I have noticed a swing in the favor of "art for art's sake," vs.
what's called "instrumentality" (art serving other functions: economic,
education, keeping the natives from getting restless) which bodes well for
improvised music and the "avant-garde" (whether you see that as just a
marketing gimmick or arbitrary classification or not).

sl