Outside edge

Unimpressed by the relentless barrage of blockbusters, Andrew Lambirth singles out some small-scale gems

Although it can’t be easy to run a major museum in this country, and balance the books as well as fulfil a remit to provide the best possible conspectus of past and contemporary art for the general public, our museums are becoming increasingly narrow in what they offer. The range of art on show in London, for instance, has shrunk alarmingly, as the Whitechapel, the Serpentine and the Tate pursue very similar programmes, vying to be the first to put on the same internationally fashionable artists. Big names are required to draw the crowds, but these do not seem to be balanced by smaller shows of lesser-known artists, and the Tate in particular is failing in its role to show the wealth of art currently being produced in Britain, and the considerable achievements of British art over the last century (not to mention the historical collections).