When it comes to culture, governmental policy is a rather blunt instrument - policy and programs do not act with the precision of surgical scalpels, nor with the fluidity or grace of the calligrapher s brush. Enacting cultural policy is more akin to using gardening tools. The gardener is likely to see results long after tools are employed and long-term success is dependent on a variety of factors, many beyond human control, such as the vagaries of weather, the unique characteristics of the plant stock, and the richness of soil. At least in my case with gardening, my aspirations in the spring hardly ever match my harvest in the fall, but that never seems to discourage my dreaming at the next vernal equinox. Neither the worker in culture nor the worker in agriculture can be shy of patience or promise in their endeavor.
Governmental bodies have cultures of their own.
The culture of a particular governmental agency is something to be considered when discussing development and implementation of any policy. As cultural specialists we realize that governmental systems project and reflect deeply embedded cultural qualities and those are manifest in the ideas and attitudes of individual workers, the processes and mechanisms of administrative structures, and the goals and ideals of those with political or administrative power. Artistic expression and cultural heritage play a central role in national legacy, ethnic and regional character, community spirit, and individual and familial identity. Development can have several meanings when it is applied to culture. Development may constitute a natural evolutionary process of refinement and growth, or it may mean that external mechanisms are brought to bear on a fragile system that could result in a depletion of intrinsic resources.