He wants the organisations it funds to trumpet Arts Council subsidy more.

Some were outraged at the very notion, arguing - with some force - that it is the artists who deserve the credit.

Sir Christopher’s defenders point out that the issue is advocacy - raising the profile of the organisation, showing what it does, and that it has a stake in successful brands from the Royal Shakespeare Company and National to the Donmar.

That is fair enough.

But in which case, it is no point Sir Christopher complaining. If the Arts Council is failing to persuade its own regularly funded organisations that Arts Council branding is a good idea, then how on earth is it expecting to be an effective advocate to the Treasury in the next spending round?

ends