socialmedian: Why isn't comedy funded by the Arts Council?

User-submitted headlines for this story

Clips

Why isn't comedy funded by the Arts Council?

Source: The Guardian

Nov 03, 2009

Summary

Standup comedy can be as inspirational – and expensive – as any other art form, yet it attracts almost no public money. Things need to change

In 2006, standup comic Terry Saunders hit upon the idea of hosting an event in a Camberwell children's library. The event featured comic Josie Long and sketch group Pappy's Fun Club. Saunders went on to promote nights in charity shops, the British Museum and someone's front room. This year's Edinburgh Fringe saw Welsh comedian Mark Watson present The Hotel, taking over a 10-room building on Edinburgh's Queen Street and inviting audiences to sample observational comedic delights in each room. Earlier this year, visual artist Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva presented a month-long residency in Gloucester Cathedral, exhibiting visual and sonic artwork responding to her surroundings.

All of which begs a big question. Why do some of these projects count as art, and the others as comedy? Are they really so different? Earlier this year, promoter Lisa Keddie approached Arts Council England for funding for a municipal comedy event. She was t

...Read the full article

Comments (0)

Add Your Comment