I placed a careless spade and fell into a tunnel. I didn't mean to add to a
knock- the-British-Council tirade, because the negative emotions in that
aren't much use. I was trying to analyse the limitations under which they
work and therefore the limitations of services. I complain against their
"lists" just as I've been complaining against ours -- it's an interference in
the poetry market that, paradoxically, began in the Thatcher-Major era, and
the New Generation was the most egregious example. (Don't listees realise
what power they give to Simon Armitage by so constantly mentioning his name?
It doesn't mean anything to call him or any of the other leaders of the
populist movement second-rate: it's one genre calling another genre second
rate and that makes no sense. Lack of talent is highly unlikely in those who
emerge from the populist ruck, supposing even thar remark had much meaning.).

Anyway, no to Tony Fraser and his "what did you expect"? If I were in a
position to grant public funds, heaven forbid, I would at least try to avoid
cronyism as far as possible because I hate it so much. There are many poetries
and many poetry audiences and if it's public money the democratic principle
has to apply. The Brit Council actually knows this. But the British govt
demands that Council staff present a diplomatic face to other countries and in
practice this often means a middle class face, because that's what best fits
the presumptions of the foreign clientele. This makes all but the best arts
administrators depend fairly heavily upon the media for their sense of what's
going on. Also, I did point out that they generally support any arts movement
that looks vigorous enough, although their manner of support doesn't always
greatly please the poets. That, not through ignorance-non-ignorance, is how
they essentially work.

Of course, Ric should take support for "The Other".

Providing the needed vigour is the only way forward.

For reasons connected with my forthcoming retirement from regular work, it's
very difficult for me to raise funds in Britain right now. But I'd be glad to
offer an immediate £50 to help towards the new poetry imprint on two
conditions: that it judged manuscripts as far as possible on their merit and
not on a pals basis; that it did not publish me. I imagine it'd need about
£5,000 to get started -- am I right? Say 100 poets, assuming they're all as
penurious as me. And it would have to make sure that its first few titles made
a profit -- that's the rub, you know, avoiding too starry eyed a hope that
merit in a book will be promptly be recognised. Instead, it would need
constant nurturing and really hard editing.

I assume a subscription form would be the first approach and a body of poets
across Britain ready to act as unpaid reps -- that's the sort of thing. No
envy. God, is this utopia? It seems so simple. But the very first response
from the poets will be, who's running this? To hell with that: for £50 I'm
not exactly risking much.

Doug




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