Value of art

With regard to Steve Forman, the professional American musician currently teaching at the Conservatoire in Glasgow and who may not be allowed a further visa to remain here (your report, 24 October), it is a fact that the majority of our own non-institutionalist musicians and artists earn nowhere near the annual sum of £31,000 that apparently is the benchmark for Mr Forman’s right to remaining in this country.

Accountancy is meaningless and artificial when it comes to the shaping of a culture, when it is actually the culture itself which drives a nation forward and gives it identity: financial issues play second fiddle to a country’s real worth.

Unfortunately, in the UK we seem oblivious to this, stupidly bringing financial considerations to the fore, thus blinding the actual shaping of ideas.

Douglas Hogg

Gordon

Berwickshire