For someone who once considered himself an artist, I sure have some surprising views on the topic.

It is often said that the world would be a dreary place without art. The cities would be lifeless, and its inhabitants too cerebral. Therefore, the argument goes, we should value artists more. We should pay them more, respect them more and recognise their talents at least as much as we recognise the talents of professional athletes. But I sometimes wonder whether this argument is cogent -- whether it actually provides governmental and corporate officials with sufficient reason to diffuse their financial and attentional resources onto our painters, curators and poets. My own view is that the answer is a qualified 'no'.

I do not think that the government should be chastised for funding the arts as much as they do. You see, as it turns out, the arts are thriving more than they ever have. This remains the case even when the conditions are so blatently unfavourable to the aesthetically-inclined. Music students, without hesitation, are prepared to spend tens of thousands of dollars on their arts education. And the same goes for dancers, film makers and everyone else. What is remarkable about this trend is that these kids are fully aware that their chances of creating a successful, valued career are very poor. Yet poor kids, rich kids and any kid with the desire to pursue the arts will continue to do so.

Even when all of the odds are against the artist, brilliant art of all kinds and genres still gets created. We have esoteric art, classical art, avant-guard art. And more museums and venues than ever before. I suspect that we would have cause to worry about the quality and quantity of the resources we allot to artists only if the quality and quantity of the arts were diminishing. But they are not. We have all the reason in the world to think that they are flourishing more than ever before.

Everyone wants to be a rapper. Everyone wants to be a painter. But they do not usually pursue these careers for mistaken reasons. They know what the world is like. They know how grim it seems. And, clearly, they persist with great products, and continue to illuminate our cities with an uncanny, ineffable brilliance.

I simply cannot understand what there is to change.