I know I should read the entire bulk of replies before throwing in my two cents, but I can't resist... (and yes, I will read all the replies, what I have skimmed through seems very interesting.)

{Weird reference incoming}

I don't know if there are any comic readers out there, but there is a great comic book about comic books called "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud. At one point he discusses the validity of comics as an art form. His point of view is that it's a silly question with a very simple answer. I like to think the way he puts it is both very simple and very eloquent (and even funny.)

(I don't have my copy of the book with me right now so I'm working off memory.) He states that art can easily be defined as human expression that occurs outside the framework of the two basic human needs: the need to survive and the need to reproduce. He states that it is the same now as it has ever been. The need to survive (image shows a man in a business suit going to work and a parallel image shows a caveman running away from a saber tooth tiger) and the need to reproduce (image shows a man and woman talking in a bar and a parallel image shows a caveman dragging a cavewoman into ..well.. a cave)

"Now back to the caveman running for survival." (Same image of caveman running.) (Next image they are nearing a cliff.) (Next image caveman jumps into a tree right by the cliff and the tiger goes flying off the cliff in excellent Wily E. Coyote style.) "At this point, survival has been achieved in this particular situation. So the event is over. But..." (Next image the caveman looks over the cliff, puts his hands to his ears in a antler fashion, and blows a raspberry at the tiger at the bottom of the cliff.) "Art."

He goes on to discuss that it is a rudimentary example and no one would put the label "fine art" on that expression, but past the basic idea labels come down to personal opinion. Art, afterall, is about expression and in expressing an idea it can lead to a response in others, be it inspiration or empathy or the like.

The problem with stigmas surrounding the word art in modern society boils down to two things... power and the overlap of arts & survival.

I say power because people like to define what is art and what is not in a pretentious way... looking down on others... trying to force that their opinion of an expression is better which makes them feel more important. The sad part is that other people regularly buy into it instead of forming their own feelings on the matter.

The overlap of arts & survival is something that is impossible to avoid nowadays. Making a job of something artistic means molding expression to universal ideals for acceptance... it also changes the ways people define and look at the word itself "art"

So, why did the British Arts Council label Bonsai as 'not an art'? Well, for one, they personally aren't attracted to it and are belittling all the bonsai artists out there.(power) and two someone already said... it's about the money (which is 95% of survival in the modern world.) They have it and don't want to give it to something they don't like (which relates to the first part) so instead of just turning down the grant request they attach a stupid label that we all know is idiotic.

P.S. I personally enjoy Jackson Pollock's work.