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PREDICTABLY, 1984 HAS BECOME THE YEAR OF GEORGE ORWELL AND BIG BROTHER. EVEN THE GOVERNMENT SEEMED PREPARED TO ENTER INTO THE SPIRIT OF THINGS WITH ITS VIGOROUS PURSUIT OF YET MORE LEAK INVESTIGATIONS, THE BANNING OF TRADE UNIONS AT GCHQ CHELTENHAM AND THE INTRODUCTION IN JANUARY OF THE NEW PLASTIC NATIONAL INSURANCE CARDS WITH THEIR THREE INTIMIDATING MAGNETIC STRIPS, TWO OF WHICH REMAINED MYSTERIOUSLY SURPLUS TO INITIAL REQUIREMENTS. THE YEAR ALSO SAW THE LAUNCH OF A NEW FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CAMPAIGN. IT IS IRONIC, THEREFORE, THAT 1984 WILL ALSO BE THE YEAR IN WHICH DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION FINALLY REACHES THE BRITISH STATUTE BOOKS, OVER 20 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL AND NINE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST GOVERNMENT PROMISE TO LEGISLATE.

THE AUTHORS CAN GREET THE ARTS COUNCIL'S LATEST REPORT THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN WITH A VARIETY OF FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS. GRATITUDE THAT IN HIS CHOICE OF TITLE AND INTRODUCTORY QUOTES THE CHAIRMAN, SIR WILLIAM REES MOGG, HAS PROVIDED COMMENTATORS WITH SUCH A FERTILE SOURCE OF METAPHOR, ANALOGY AND IMAGERY JUST RIPE FOR THE PICKING. SYMPATHY FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF ITS DELIBERATIONS THE CONTEXT OF THE DEBATE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT PLANS TO ABOLISH THE GLC AND METROPOLITAN COUNTY COUNCILS, AND BY THE DAMAGING EFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON MANY ARTS PROJECTS IN THESE AREAS. PLEASURE THAT THE ARTS COUNCIL HAS AT LONG LAST DECIDED TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW OF ALL ITS WORK: AS THE CHAIRMAN STATES "FORTY YEARS IS FAR TOO LONG A PERIOD FOR AN ORGANISATION LIKE THE ARTS COUNCIL, WHICH NEEDS TO BE LIVELY AND FLEXIBLE IN ADAPTING TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, TO OPERATE WITHOUT UNDERTAKING SUCH A REVIEW." DOUBT THAT THE REVIEW IS AS THOROUGH AND FUNDAMENTAL AS THE CHAIRMAN CLAIMS. ANXIETY THAT THE WRONG STEPS HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. AND LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST SOME CYNICISM REGARDING THE ACGB'S VIEW THAT THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE ARTS FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AUTHORITY SOURCES.