Change the rules or change the venue ... everyday somebody or other writes me
to discuss with the nearest University to my residence the question of
funding for literature ... the
answer is usually the same ... the University is not
funding China or Literature ...generally its not their practice so to do ... so instead
of dealing with the direct rejection they expect me or others like me to
carry rejection for them ... alas! I dont ... you carry your own cross and I carry mine ... I dont go round the world writing to China or its Universities for free funding of literature and there isnt any anyway ... I did, however, write to a few contacts in Europe since Britain is a full
member of the E.U. and it seemed likely that European Union and its many
manifestations would provide funding for Literature of such a high class and
culture that it would be a piece of cake to receive it...
Alas! this was not the case and I received several free poems from the
University of Salzburg thanking me for my interest in German Literature and
Poetry and
expanding their interest in
English Literature and Culture but the answer was clearcut ...
Salzburg University in Salzburg Austria is "not" funding poets or poetry in fact they are
seeking funding from Britain instead. That''s an odd bit of news was my immediate
reaction ... since Britain requires all its own organisations of arts centres to be
funded by H.M. Government ... so it has been stale mate every since.
Every day I get caught up in some row about funding for poetry and the answer is always a clear "no" ... I suppose the only way to get funded is for somebody in the circle to throw the
money in a hat and everyone must run to the centre of the circle and the poet who picks up the money can then say loudly and clearly ..... "Hooray! I am funded".
Exciting stuff ... the background to funding in Literature and when I win my battle I will let you know how much funding I receive .... great stuff .. keep on reading the blogs ... from China ... New Zealand, Austria, U.S.A. and Eire!
More summaries about the Funding of Literature