Could I ask listmembers who were at the Poetry Society at this time
about Bunting's role, as President of the Society? I am fascinated by
the theme of patronage which is shot through his work, from the gilded
hands of the Emperor in Villon to the patronless and dishevelled 'poet
appointed' (darkly ironic phrase that) of Briggflatts. As President of
the Society during some of these crucial years, he may have been
involved in the kind of patronage he later posited in the speeches he
gave for Northern Arts a few years later (again, he was President
there - I recommend these pamphlets heartily - they go to the core of
the state patronage dilemma). Put briefly, and only a little
travestistically: just give artists the money. Go on, risk. See what
happens a long time later. Expect to write most of it off.
In one Northern Arts pamphlet he suggests he tried to persuade the
membership to wean itself off state subsidy altogether, but resigned
because the membership was unable to accept that. Does anyone have
anything to add to his version of events?
I should say I've just finished a piece on Bunting and patronage for a
book of essays on him that Jim McGonigal and I are editing for
publication a bit later on in the year: I'm almost hoping there's
nothing more to say! "You wish."
Richard
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