Acclaimed British Director, Sir Peter Hall, is hoping the United States will be more arts-friendly than his native England. A founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and a former Director of the National Theater in London, Hall recently left Britain after a falling out with its Arts Council which refused to fund his repretory company. He also criticized the British Government's funding policies which he claims have starved the arts for 20 years. Hall has NOT left Britain permanently, but he will be gone for at least six months while he sets up an American Shakespeare Company in Los Angeles. Today he's in Minneapolis speaking at the Guthrie Theater as part of its Global Voices program. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr he's eager to do Shakespear in the states.