With the cuts in public spending we all knew that  Arts would be hardest hit, it always is. Of course, we have to prioritise, any decent civilised nation puts public health and education at the top of spending lists.

AS things become increasingly  harder and the recession goes on  and on – like politicians telling us how much we are all in it together- I hope that museums will be able to keep free admissions policy.  Free admission means that art remains accessible, and accessibility is important.

Recently at the Guggenheim in New York, I stood and watched a young museum worker talk to a small group of Black American children and their caregivers. She had (bravely) chosen a picture by the Russian Supremacist artist Vladimir Malevich, and she was getting the children to search the work for shapes and colours. She was animated, engaging and above all enthusiastic.  Her love of her subject was transparent. The kids, sat in semi-circle at her feet, were enthralled and enjoying themselves. As I stood and  watched this young woman, a work by the Black American artist Faith Ringgold came into my mind, the work entitled ‘Dancing at the Louvre’ was a sharp contrast to what was happening in front of me.

Ringgold’s ‘story quilt’ depicts a woman and children dancing under the masterpieces at the museum. The paintings hold no interest for them.  Ringgold visited Europe in the 1960s after gaining her MA in fine Art, she found there were few black people depicted in the works and few black or women artists were exhibited. Underlying this was the feeling that art was not for them; it had nothing to say to them.

There are many in the UK today that feel the same way.

This is wrong  because  Art does have something to say to all of us; it is not just a luxury to be pushed further down a list by governments short of cash. The irony being that our galleries, museums and  even some government departments are stuffed full of art that no one sees. We could display some of this unseen  art to get people into the galleries, there is no need for the expensive block buster shows.

We need art.

Art has been found to speed up hospital patients recovery; we need it as much as we need green space and parks. It is not a luxury.

We need enthusiastic people to bring our dull museums to life, especially for the young from disadvantaged backgrounds.

If the Guggenheim can show art IS accessible why can’t the big London galleries?

We can only do this if art is accessible and free to all and we work to make it relevant to people’s lives, we need to end the dancing at the Louvre.

http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/d11.htm

Faith Ringgold -Dancing in The Louvre