There is a driving need for people to have art in their life. From quilting and storytelling for the poor to the tapestries and private concerts of the very rich, the arts can be found in every culture in your world. As with other aspects of your setting, you should have at least some idea of how different parts of your culture interact with the arts and humanities.

Due to their nature, some of the fine arts are the exclusive realm of the elite class. Instruments like organs and harpsichords are very expensive. Staging an opera requires singers, instrumentalists, sets, lighting, and a place to stage it. It was a common for the elite to commission composers to write symphonies and operas. Tapestries and sculptures of favorite scenes would adorn their houses. Prior to the invention of the movable type printing press, books were illuminated, a fantastically complicated and expensive process.

For the poor, there were street performers, storytellers, needlework, tavern singers, and many other performers. Some instruments were cheap to make and own, such as the plucked psaltry, tonal drums, and of course singing was free. It was common for performers to work for tips on the streets, in taverns, and in travelling shows.

When creating your setting, come up with a list of arts that are favored by the elite, the middle classes, the lower classes, and the poor. Just like fashion, some arts come into and out of favor, so it is completely possible that the opera is frequented by those without a lot of money and circuses are the domain of the ruling aristocracy. If this is the case, remember that operas and plays written for the masses will be different than those written for a well-educated audience. High end circuses may do away with oddities and focus on elegant pageantry, such as the Cirque du Soleil does now.

Tied into the arts will people’s sense of history. Plays and stories dealing the the myths and history of a people are extremely common in every culture. For some, this may be the primary way they get their historical education. This may even be a way for the elite to control the majority of the populace. Remember, one of the reasons why Richard III was so despised in England was because of Shakespeare’s play about him.

Finally, it is not difficult to imagine the government becoming involved in the arts. Censorship of topics, subjects, and even media has happened. Perhaps there is a license for calligraphers, all singers need to be part of a guild, or only women are allowed to paint. The government may also have funds or places set aside specifically for the arts and humanities. Local lords or members of the government may have a passion for some artistic or scholastic endeavor, making their area a hot bed of painting or have the largest library for hundreds of miles.

Next week, I’m going to talk about where I am in my writing. Thanks for reading. See you next Sunday!