With the Whitworth, HOME and now The Factory, money is being poured into arts buildings in Manchester, but what the North of England really needs is money spent on actual art, argues Ben Walmsley.
The reopening of Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery is the latest in a slew of good news in what might be perceived as a cultural coup for the North of England. Or at least for Manchester, which George Osborne has been convinced to place at the artistic heart of his so-called Northern Powerhouse plan.
Osborne’s plan is designed to support a call from five key northern cities (Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Liverpool) for a £15bn investment over five years in science, transport and infrastructure. Cynics might note that both culture and the Conservatives have come late to the regional investment party. This was sparked not only by the looming general election but also by the game-changing Scottish Independence referendum, which put the spotlight firmly on the benefits of devolution... Keep reading on The Conversation
The reopening of Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery is the latest in a slew of good news in what might be perceived as a cultural coup for the North of England. Or at least for Manchester, which George Osborne has been convinced to place at the artistic heart of his so-called Northern Powerhouse plan.
Osborne’s plan is designed to support a call from five key northern cities (Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Liverpool) for a £15bn investment over five years in science, transport and infrastructure. Cynics might note that both culture and the Conservatives have come late to the regional investment party. This was sparked not only by the looming general election but also by the game-changing Scottish Independence referendum, which put the spotlight firmly on the benefits of devolution... Keep reading on The Conversation