Turner Prize-winner Anish Kapoor wades into the arts funding debate.
Arty big shot Anish Kapoor has slammed the coalition government's proposed cuts to art funding, saying he was “dismayed” at the decisions being made. According to the BBC, Kapoor described the coalition's arts cuts as “short-sighted” and was “particularly worried” about the impact on a range of museums and galleries, especially those outside London.
"I have been very fortunate,” Kapoor admitted, “and I fear that many others will not be so lucky if the government abandons the financial support that is so essential if the arts are to thrive. It seems short-sighted to me for the government to do such damage to the British cultural sector, which has made such a valuable contribution to the perception of Britain abroad."
Kapoor is well placed to comment on “the perception of Britain abroad” after the artist contributed a weird sci-fi sculpture to London's hosting of the 2012 Olympics. Costing an estimated £19.1 million, the bizarrely named ArcelorMittal Orbit will stand 20 metres higher than the Statue of Liberty and is being part-funded by the London Development Agency who are forking out £3.1 million for a structure that rather resembles a ridiculous theme-park monstrosity.
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