censorship in the arts

An ideology becomes dominant, not just by its adherents sounding passionate and persuasive, but via the suppression of dissent. Suppressing dissent is of course incompatible with other values such as freedom of speech, but such values seem to be being de-emphasised by Western cultural elites.
   The arts world has for many years given the appearance of being unified in its support for leftist-interventionist ideology, and of being unified in its contempt for conservatism. What wasn't clear was whether every individual within that world was committed to this approach, or whether there were potential dissenters but they were simply not promoted or given financial support.
   A recent survey on freedom of expression within the arts, carried out by ArtsProfessional, suggests the latter explanation is the correct one:

[The survey] indicates the openness, risk and rebellion that many believe characterises the sector is being eroded. [More than 80% of respondents] thought that "workers in the arts and cultural sector who share controversial opinions risk being professionally ostracised". [...]

Pressure to keep quiet was most likely to come from colleagues, according to two-thirds of respondents. However, the survey also revealed examples of retribution from organisations against arts workers who spoke their minds, from marginalisation and isolation to lost commissions [and] cancelled contracts [...].

The research indicates the arts and cultural sector is intolerant of viewpoints outside of the dominant norms. Anything that might be considered "politically incorrect" to the liberal-leaning sector — including expressing support or sympathy for Brexit, the Conservatives or other right-wing political parties — was felt to be risky territory.

One of the survey's respondents seems to have summed up the overall position fairly succinctly:

Our arts, culture, and indeed education sectors are supposed to be fearlessly freethinking and open to a wide range of challenging views. However, they are now dominated by a monolithic politically correct class (mostly of privileged white middle class people, by the way), who impose their intolerant views across those sectors.

The respondent adds that this is driving people who disagree away, and risks increasing support for the very things the politically correct class professes to stand against.

Meaningful critique of a dominant ideology can only happen if dissident individuals and organisations are given financial support.