On 12 July 1945, the economist John Maynard Keynes announced on BBC radio that the Arts Council of Great Britain would be “a permanent body, independent in constitution, free from red tape.” Keynes is also credited with the line: “The task of an official body is not to censor, but give courage, confidence and opportunity.”
Keynes arranged for the council to report to the Treasury. This established what came to be called an “arms length” relationship between arts policy and the government of the day.