Letter: Art of the matter

Then I read about the gaming machines on the sands at Portobello beach (30 July), which are supposed to represent the Wall Street theory about the impact of unexpected events. In view of this waste of money in these dire economic times I am with Malcolm Parkin in demanding cuts in the arts budget.

I just hope there is an "unexpected event" and we get an extremely high tide very soon.

CLARK CROSS

Springfield Road

Linlithgow

Since I prefer English and Scots words to expressions like "luvvy" (Letters, 30 July), I would choose a different description for people who take "art" to include unmade beds and piles of bricks: I would call them either charlatans or dupes.

Aonghas MacNeacail is more than capable of speaking for himself, but if Malcolm Parkin passed such a judgment on me because I believe that state support for the arts is vital to the social health of the nation (as I do), I would be highly indignant.

DERICK McCLURE

Rosehill Terrace

Aberdeen