Before the Arts Council

This book explores the hitherto neglected history of the campaign for state funding of the arts. By focusing on the important but forgotten movements for music and drama subsidy before and during WWII, Howard Webber makes an important contribution to the history of arts subsidy.
Before the Arts Council rediscovers three forgotten but influential campaigns for state support of the arts in Britain in the 1930s and wartime. Webber's impressive historical excavation challenges existing scholarship, which argues that arts subsidy was the result of the war, and instead re-situates the campaign's origins in the pre-war years. Webber does so by drawing on correspondence from influential figures including Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Maynard Keynes and J.B Priestley, along with extensive use of government papers.
Before the Arts Council is a lively, compelling and scrupulously researched account of a subject consistently misunderstood and misrepresented. It changes our understanding of an aspect of British cultural history we thought we knew well. It will appeal to students of twentieth century social and political history and to anyone with a general interest in the arts and in this period.

Howard Webber has spent his career in Whitehall, in organisations including the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and the Arts Council. He has degrees from Birmingham and Harvard Universities and an MA and PhD in modern British history from King's College London, UK.

Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: The Creation Myth of the Arts Council
Introduction
The Creation Myth and its Persistence
Scope and Aims of this Book
Chapter 2: Theatre and Classical Music in 1930s Britain
Introduction
Cinema v Theatre
Broadcasting v Live Music
Conclusion
Chapter 3: The League of Audiences: (i) 'I am progressing Almost Beyond my Hopes': A Forgotten Debate
'Advancing Upon the Iron Portals of Whitehall': the League Begins
Alfred Wareing
The League and the Press
The League's Supporters
The League's Programme
'A Piece of Idealistic Blackmailing': the League Gains Support
Chapter 4: The League of Audiences: (ii) Fear of the Machine and Distrust of the State
Introduction
The League and Mechanised Art: (a) 'A Sensation of Impotence and Dumb Acquiescence'
'Condemned to Death by Being Canned Alive': The Scope of the Issue
'Death to Hollywood'?
Opposition to 'Mechanised Music'
The League and Mechanised Art: (b) The Involvement of the Churches
'Under the Shadow of a New State Obligation': Opposition to the League of Audiences
Conclusion
Chapter 5: The League of Audiences: (iii) Decline, Fall and Legacy
Introduction
'Mr Wareing is Filled With Something of the Crank Ingredient': The League of Audiences and the BBC
The League of Audiences and the Theatrical Establishment
The End of The League of Audiences: (A) Decline
The End of The League of Audiences: (B) Fall
The End of The League of Audiences: (C) Lingering Death
The Significance and Legacy of The League of Audiences
Chapter 6: John Christie and the 'Council of Power': 1936-39
Introduction
The Beginnings: 'I Want to Form a Royal Society of Music'
The Glyndebourne Conference of March 1938
Christie Prepares
Discussion at the Conference
The July 1938 Conference
Christie in the Approach to War
conclusion
Chapter 7 'Cema is Already Broken Down': John Christie and the National Council of Music 1939-41
Introduction
Preliminary Lobbying: to Summer 1940
'The Psychological Moment Has Arrived': to December 1940
Christie and the Musicians
Successes and Excesses
'Let the Flags Be Out. Let Us Drive in State': to Spring 1941
Christie's Friends and Supporters in Spring 1941
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Butler, Keynes and the End of Christie's National Council of Music: 1941-44
Global Ambitions and Legal Minutiae: the NCM Spring to Autumn 1941
'We Are At Last Unofficially Accepted & Wanted': Christie Misunderstands - Autumn 1941 to Spring 1942
'Damn the Machine': Keynes Blocks the NCM - Spring and Summer 1942
'I See Nothing But Hate and Envy': Late 1942 to Spring 1943
The End of the NCM: Spring 1943 to Autumn 1944
Conclusion
Chapter 9: 'No Levy on Laughter and no Fine on Fun!': the Campaign Against Entertainments Duty
Introduction
Origin and History of Entertainments Duty to 1933
1933-34 - The Old Vic and Sadler's Wells: Music, Drama and Education
The Campaign 1933-39: 'Why Should "Crazy Nights at Clacton" Escape?'
Conclusion: 'Bringing an Aesthetic Principle into Politics'?
Chapter 10: Restoring the Picture
The Picture Revealed
Completing the Picture
Bibliography