To Fund or Not to Fund

To Fund or Not To Fund (2024) is a thought-provoking episode of the LateMode Podcast where, together with the host Giulia Morlando, I delve into the complex interplay between arts funding and the creative practices of artists.

As a guest on this podcast, dedicated to issues around sustainable arts practices, I was invited to share insights from my year-long research into the impact of public arts funding on emerging interdisciplinary artists, based in the Netherlands. Drawing from my results, I explore the nuanced dynamics of funding regulations and their impact on autonomous artistic practices, particularly in aesthetic terms, and situate the current Dutch cultural policy landscape within its broader European context.

Throughout the podcast, we tackle a range of other interrelated pressing topics, including the widespread precarity within the creative sector, the value of arts in other social domains, and how status shapes cultural consumption. Looking ahead, we also discuss the types of frameworks needed to better support artists and urge makers to respond with empathy to the crushing forces of neoliberal competition.

To Fund or Not To Fund is not just a question—it is a call to action for a more resilient and equitable arts sector.

Colophon

Guest Speaker

Sofia Vieira

Episode Host

Giulia Morlando

Sound Engineer

Jack Laing Aiken

Cover Designer

Jack Laing Aiken

Host Organisation

LateMode