Sponsorship and the arts : a historical overview

Abstract

The sponsorship of artistic activities must be reviewed within the context of the purpose of art and the status of the artist in society. First, it is common knowledge that although life without the arts would be rather drab, it is also true that art does not always serve a practical purpose. Indeed, we may do without it, whereas we cannot do without food, shelter and medical care. In other words, the world can still function without the fine arts, music, poetry and theatrical works, and so people invest in art only if their basic needs are catered for first, and if they have been brought up to appreciate art. Second, the status of the artist has a direct bearing on artistic expression. History shows us thatthe upper social strata tend to concentrate on activities of dominance such as politics or economic hegemony. Society's elite may have the time to indulge in artistic pursuits, but rarely entertain the idea of earning a living through art, since they can afford to buy or commission it whenever they want. Subsequently, artists depend on patronage or occasional commissions and are therefore in a relatively subordinate position.