The problem is big galleries squeezing out smaller galleries, hogging collectors, curators, critics - coverage! It's the smaller galleries that are going to the wall in disturbing numbers in these grim times. We're not just talking the usual turnover of failed and fledgling galleries, we're talking about a real shrinkage of commercial gallery numbers. Effectively it amounts to monopoly by the major players, marginalisation for any potential competition. Students of free enterprise will be familiar with the development and its disasterous consequences.
One or two people on the comments threads mention artist-run spaces, which obviously cut overheads but ultimately still have to attract the 3Cs - critics, collectors and curators. If these are coralled into the majors pen, it's hard to see how even co-ops can survive. Inevitably, financial or economic issues need political solutions. At this point whether we ought to talk politics on an arts site becomes moot.
For the moment I remain mute.
