Public Value of Arts and Culture

Opleggen of overleggen?

Abstract

The Council for Culture, the Dutch government's most important advisory body on
art and culture, has published a report on the threat to artistic freedom. One of the
Council's recommendations is that the government, as well as schools, civil organizations,
and art institutions, should promote the public value of art more effectively.
It also advocates broadening the understanding of what art is, among
others by including amateur art. Based on key literature, this article addresses
the question of what public value entails and the various definitions thereof.
Drawing on the findings of doctoral research into amateur art, it is argued
that there can be different perspectives on the public value of art. Therefore, it is
not the public value that should be promoted; instead, a debate should be started
on the question what various stakeholders perceive as the public value of art.