Still wild that the BBC journalist"ran it through ChatGPT" to see if it was fake rather than... You know, journism skills.

That example is made up. But you can find hundreds of examples of similar "Art" that has not added anything beyond something for people to do for a week.

This is why artists should be leading and not following. This is why ACE should be supporting and not leading.

But at least that one library group got to spend two weeks telling an artist what it was about books that they loved.

"They take me somewhere else" was written in neon above the doorway, as if insightful, and removed a month later.

And so people seek symbols for their collective identity and what are we left with? Flags. Simple patterns on textile or crosses in paint on roundabouts.

We could have had challenging sculpture, but now we have flags.

Which is wild, when you think how unpopular the angel of the North was upon installation.

And since everything is temporary and somewhat navel gazing, there's a lack of permanent public art, especially as organisations seek to avoid controversy.

Also, the focus on engagement and communities has silenced niche voices and the under-represented. These folk don't bring big numbers or wide appeal, but they often provide unique insight into the character of a nation because of their otherness.

None of this work has a lasting legacy, rather it acts as busy work where the same people in the same communities are "engaged" to talk about themselves.

This isn't art. At best this is a survey with pictures.

England lacks a cohesive national identity in its art work. This doesn't have to be a monoculture, but something unique to here.

Meanwhile ACE has championed a sort of low grade social work replacement since Cameron went all Big Society on us.

The original Big Shop.

Absolutely rotten, isn't it?

This party love to beat down the very people they pretend to stand for, whilst jumping in front of any bullet aimed at the mega-rich.