John Berger's 1955 manifesto on art criticism's future and public role

In 1955, John Berger contributed a piece titled 'Critics Credo' to Art News and Review (now ArtReview) as part of a series exploring critical practice. Berger distinguishes between studio criticism, which offers technical advice directly to artists, and public criticism, which addresses general audiences by evaluating completed works. He argues public criticism emerged only about two centuries ago due to art's separation from everyday life. Berger contends that critics must connect artworks to broader human experience, including political and social contexts, citing the threat of nuclear weapons as one urgent reason. He believes the ultimate goal of public criticism should be to make itself obsolete, with art eventually integrated so fully into society that specialized critics become unnecessary. The critic's role involves assessing a work's impact on various perspectives—the artist, other creators, spectators, and future generations—through an imaginative leap supported by extensive knowledge. Berger lists essential qualifications for critics, including understanding artistic processes, historical awareness, familiarity with contemporary affairs, and passionate engagement with art. He emphasizes that his credo outlines ideals for valuable criticism rather than describing his personal achievements.