Everyone town of 100,000 in the United States should have a Classical Theater supported by the town, or the state of the county, or the Federal Government, as they have in every civilized country.
There are two big beasts in the arts: the BBC and Sky Arts - challenging, leading the way.
The function of arts centers goes far beyond being places for performance. They might not be explicitly religious, but they are civic and social spaces.
I have always loved the Barnsdall Art Center and the Hollyhock House.
Cincinnatians support a symphony, an opera, a ballet, museums, many galleries and theater groups.
The BBC does a sterling job, but I'd like to see it do more. ITV does four arts programmes a year; it used to be 28. At least Sky, with its two arts channels, is trying.
I was the only BBC graduate trainee in 1961 interested in arts broadcasting. I knew I wanted to write, and I had to make a living.
I deplore the loss of arts on BBC One and Two.
When you have a community that's strong in the arts, it brings all sorts of attention and different businesses into the community.
I grew up in a nonprofit theater company in the heartland of central California, so I am very aware of the importance that company had not only on my life but my community.
I would passionately make the case that the harder the times, the more we need things that aren't just about keeping our job and making a buck - important though those things are. Arts programming isn't some sort of add-on or ornamental luxury.
It's amazing that Sky is the only place that has two dedicated arts channels. The BBC is doing very well... but why don't they do more?
Unless we build theater and performing arts, then we're not going to be creating future patrons. We need to make it accessible.
