Declaration of the
autonomy of the arts

In this time of crisis, in which governments withdraw their support from culture and the public debate is dominated by the question whether the art is ‘useful’, it is important to note that:

- Art is autonomous
- Art is first and foremost developed by the passion, fascination and curiosity of individuals
- Works of art have value in themselves.
- Art touches us emotionally and confronts us with the core of our existence.
- It is our duty to ourselves and our posterity to further explore and develop.
this quality of art.  

- Our imagination and language are fundamentally insufficient to fathom works solely on the basis of ideas, concepts or verbal descriptions.
- It therefore is necessary to make a work in order to truly experience, analyze and understand it.

Consequently, artists have a duty to:

- Develop their skills
- Contribute to the meticulous study of art and its development
- Create work when the time for it is ready
- Create work that can stand alone

Artworks have the right to:

- Attention and respect.
- be preserved and conserved under optimal conditions.
- to be destroyed in a respectful manner when preservation or restoration are not possible.

It is important to emphasize and defend the autonomy of art in the current political and economic constellation. In particular, action should be taken against individuals or institutions that weaken the position of  art by:
- Subordinating art to their own ideas (critics, directors and curators who utilize works only as illustration of their theories).
- Exploiting art for political, commercial and ideological objectives (to glorify the state, church, hobby of the leftwing).
- Encouraging an attitude of aggressive ignorance (I just mess around), aggressive indifference or other forms of repressive tolerance (everything is art, everyone is an artist, art as mere self-expression).

The autonomy of art is the basis of its social value and meaning. A government should ensure an economic, cultural and political climate in which art can unfold optimally and freely. We invite institutions such as governments, museums, companies and universities to support art financially or by other means but deny them the right to judge art or to influence its development.

Pieter Adriaans and Peter B. van Houten

Foudgum, November 6, 2011

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