Arts Council of Great Britain

In January 1940, during the Second World War, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA)[1] was appointed to help promote and maintain British culture.

The council's first chairman was John Maynard Keynes who used his influence in government to secure a high level of funding despite Britain's poor finances following the war.

The majority of this funding was directed to organisations with which Keynes had close ties such as the Royal Opera House and was restricted to Central London.

[6] After Keynes' death in April 1946 government funding was reduced but the Arts Council received wide recognition for its contribution to the Festival of Britain thanks to the new chairman Kenneth Clark.

[citation needed] The Arts Council commissioned 12 sculptors and 60 painters, who made large paintings, 114 by 152 centimetres (45 by 60 in) or more, to be displayed at the festival.

[citation needed] The government grant to the council was capped effecting a real-terms reduction in funding, though it was argued that any shortfall would be made up by increased sponsorship from the private sector.