The National Lottery has been running for almost fourteen years and has raised over £21 billion for good causes. These good causes include art, heritage, sport, charities and health, education and the environment. This year, areas rife with crime have been major headliners, therefore it would be in the public’s favour to contribute more money to The Community Fund, who improve the quality of life in disadvantaged communities. Surely investing more money in cleaning up Britain’s dirty hospitals would be money better-spent than on a painting.

What is now considered ‘art’ has become more complex and lucrative than it used to be. Tracey Emin’s Unmade Bed, which was shortlisted for the Turner Prize, became a highly controversial work of art as more contemporary artists continue to create works perhaps unappreciated by those favouring classic masterpieces. The public may not appreciate their money being spent on preserving art; such as Damien Hirst’s sliced and pickled cow and calf. Art has no boundaries and it will never stop.

Unless you ask an art student or gallery enthusiast, most of the British public would not be able to name a famous British artist, let alone a work of art worth investing millions in for its’ purchase. How can this be something that deserves funding?

The wage for a policeman (after training) annually is £24,039(1) for clearing criminals from our streets. The wage for a GP nurse annually is £20,225(2), caring for the health of each and every sick patient. A firefighter earns £26,548(3) annually, saving the lives of people from the horrors of fire. Two monumental works by the Renaissance painter Titian are currently in danger of being lost and for Britain to retain them, will cost £100 million (The Times, 28th August 2008). And this is the discounted price! Whilst it is of the opinion of some individuals that these pieces are national treasures and are worthy of such an exorbitant amount, surely our nation will profit more from satisfied, fairly-paid policemen, nurses and firefighters, without whom, we would all be in continuous grave danger.
(1)
http://www.police-information.co.uk/policepay.htm
(2)
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=4
(3)
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p!eipaL?state=showocc&idno=203&pageno=2

At the height of the credit crunch, the British public is consumed with paying for the high cost of living and is perhaps not concerned with saving great works of art for museums on their doorstep. If particular masterpieces are so important and of great value to our country, should it not then be the job of the government to provide the money? Perhaps established artists should shell out for the work of their peers? Tracey Emin re