This paper in the NY Times describes how ‘Billionaires With Big Ideas Are Privatizing American Science‘. This can also be put in perspective with what happens in the field of health and development, for example with the Gates foundation, which is privately funded. Roles that had been taken by Governments during the Industrial Age seem to be now shifting to private individuals.
Patronage is actually not new. In the previous Agricultural Age, artists and creators needed the protection and funding of high-ranking individuals to develop their art and develop their initiatives – it was the widespread concept of patronage. This is why most artistic production is dedicated to the patron. It is only during the Industrial Age that this role was taken over by Government, with the creation of massive public research institutions and other direct and indirect public support mechanisms to artistic endeavors.
As we enter the Collaborative Age the trend would seem to reverse again with high wealth individuals entering again the field of art and science fostering while Governments are wrestling with huge deficits and can’t afford to continue this protection and support.
Is this trend temporary or will it be a characteristic of the Collaborative Age? I believe that with the shift in value creation and the disappearance of middle class this trend is possibly here to stay. Of course this poses all sorts of questions about possible conflicts of interests. Still patronage in the Agricultural Age supported the production of many great artwork and scientific advance, there is no reason why that could not continue.
Artists, scientists, you might want to seek funding in patronage rather than in Industrial Age governmental institutions!
