Tradsinger: The National Endowment for the Arts in the U. S. neglected the folk arts, too, for the first formative years but established a program for folk arts, I believe, in the early 1970's. Art Museums, symphony orchestras, opera companies got the lion's share, and as far as I know, still do. I always suspected that one of the main reasons was those organizations are composed of movers and shakers in the communities where those arts organizations exist. That could easily translate into support at the national level for politicians who are responsible for funding the endowment. Unfortunately, folk art (in the U.S. at least)does not have that strong voice.

It is encouraging, though, that a politician appears to be suggesting more support for folk arts in the British Isles.

DougR