“Cultured” Blair

PM’s passion for the arts confined to “Sound of Music”

The Prime Minister Tony Blair seems to be running around in circles these days trying to create his lasting “legacy”, it has taken him ten years to make what is believed to have been his first speech on culture, despite the election victory of 1997 heralding the so called age of “Cool Brittania”. Speaking to a gathering of 400 key luvvies at the Tate Modern he said;

“A nation that cares about art will not just be a better nation, Art, more than any programmes of Government can make people consider, see things differently, understand where the other person comes from.”

Err, right………I wonder if that’s what the likes of D:Ream, Noel Gallagher, and Mick Hucknall thought back in ’97?

Neither did Mr. Blair make any big statement to allay the fears over the financing of the 2012 Olympics in London, or the spin-offs that were thought to benefit the regions, – meanwhile he praised the “Renaissance in the Regions” funding for the support which helped to transform Gateshead and Newcastle’s Quayside area and the building of The Sage and The Baltic, the North’s premier arts and culture venues, yet acknowledged fears about budget cuts as a result of the Olympics bid.

Tyne and Wear Museums service provides some of the greatest educational experiences in the North without appearing to be condescending or attempting to browbeat it’s visitors, it would be the greatest shame yet if their funding was reduced as a result of the massive overspending already taking place in London for the Olympics.

Blair’s passion for the arts and culture is woefully weak, Downing Street admits that his most recent cultural outing in recent years has been a visit to see the Sound of Music! Doesn’t exactly promise a lot of hope for bringing the Lindisfarne Gospels back here does it?

Hail Cool Brittania!