The Development of Local Government's Arts and Cultural Policy in Post-war Britain

Abstract

A popular perception of the historical development of arts and cultural policy in Britain is that the immediate post-war period was decisive. This article begins looking at the historical involvements of local governments in arts and culture, and examines particularly how the civic theatre in Coventry was established. It will be shown that the development of arts and cultural policy was gradual, but also complex and even paradoxical.