It's sad that after Sunak's comments people can only imagine artists being a privileged minority, which is of course far from the truth. A structural result of long term institutional elitism, lack of arts support/education, industry exploitation & drive of artist-as-entrepreneur

There's a rose-tinted romanticism that even if all is lost after this we'll still be able to organise & create art. True, but our government also doesn't value free time and leisure: the desire to meet, share & create things together. Culture needs space & time to flourish.

The self-sustaining prophecy at almost all ends of the industry is much to blame for this. Self-sustaining because your activities are bankrolled & you can work for free to build your career? The language of DIY culture can be easily co-opted into neoliberal individualism/hussle.

Also all meritocratic award ceremonies need to stop. All bolster this idea of the marginal marketplace of hussle & invent this myopic view of branded national cultural products. Culture should be about life, sharing, experiencing things together. They only encourage atomisation.