Arts funding isn’t just government waste
Teresa Burnett
December 17, 2009
Idaho Press-Tribune
Wayne Hoffman is a man trying to find answers to big problems, like government waste and over-taxation of citizens. I have read several of his columns, and his perspective is cynical. I want to rebut his latest rant in the Dec. 13 edition of Idaho Press-Tribune.
In his article, he compares art (as cable TV) and one's job (one's car). He uses these images to show that art (cable TV) is not necessary for sustainability. However, the job (car) is vital to life.
Hoffman's claim is that art that has city, state or federal funding is draining our money through taxes and is wasting resources. What he doesn't appreciate is that the art funded by city, state or federal grants is made by qualified artists who have been educated in that area, including performance art like Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Ballet Idaho, and visual arts like the Boise Art Museum. It is a good use of grant monies because it is not trivial expression, like many programs found on cable TV.
When I researched Idaho Arts commission grants available, most were in the range of about $1,000. The largest amount was for $10,000, given over three years. The city of Boise granted $44,000 for 2010. On the high end, amounts granted were more than $3,000 for well-established organizations like Boise Philharmonic and Ballet Idaho.
These funds cannot support the total operations of each project for a year. The arts are largely funded by donations and tickets sales. Many of these are tax-deductible and benefit the taxpayer, as well as the organization.
Cultural expression enriches our community through these programs and also draws tourism and commerce into the area. Bigger businesses create jobs for the workforce in our area. That means more money for the vital sustainability of our community. To cut the art programs is to cut the vital support that keeps his car running to get him to the job.
It is true that there is waste in government spending, but all the waste in government is not due to city-, state- and federally-funded art projects. Even so, shouldn't artists be paid for their work?
* Teresa Burnett is a Nampa resident and local artist.
Originally posted at http://www.idahopress.com/opinion/recent/?2009-12-18-Arts-funding-isnt-just-government-waste
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