Nicholas Serota

There’s a big problem brewing in British politics today, says the director of the Tate Modern: No one cares about culture.

At a recent lecture at the London School of Economics regarding government funding for the arts, Nicholas Serota spoke about his difficulty coming up with the names of even five people who would be natural candidates for secretary of culture, hinting that many politicians’ appearances at arts events is solely for show. He was sure to note, however, that he thinks the latest secretary, Ben Bradshaw, is an exception.

Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, disagreed while speaking at the same event, claiming that the arts are now a political concern in a way that they weren’t two decades ago. "I think Parliament is seething with closet aesthetes," he said, adding that the Cabinet now has a minister who is responsible for the arts, which was not the case when he was appointed.