Government funding for the arts Funding in the U.S. & Europe: some figures The United States President John Kennedy was the first president to propose governmental funding for the arts. 1964 - Congress during the Johnson administration allocated $50,000 for the arts Government funding of the arts ~ slide 1

Government funding for the arts 1965 - the National Endowment for the Arts established; Congress allocates $2.4 million 1970 - $15.1 m 1975 - $82 m 1980 - $154 m 1981 - $139 m - under Reagan 1992 - $174 m 1994 - $174 m Government funding of the arts ~ slide 2

Government funding for the arts 1999 - $ Comments The NEA provides matching grants to states and local arts agencies Most of the money goes to symphony orchestras, opera, dance, and theater companies Government funding of the arts ~ slide 3

Government funding of the arts ~ slide 4

Government funding for the arts Europe Germany - $27 per person France - $32 per person Canada - $3 per person U.S. - $.68 per person in 1994 Government funding of the arts ~ slide 5

Government funding for the arts Reasons given for no government funding Government funding is a luxury. We cannot afford it. The government should not be in the arts business; it is not the function of government to support the arts. Minimalist view of government The arts are a hotbed of moral depravity Government funding of the arts ~ slide 6

Government funding for the arts Edward Martinson’s argument for government funding (“Public Support: A Contract with the Arts,” Between Acts Winter 1989-90) Offers 3 reasons 1. The elevation of American culture 2. The democratization of the arts The availability of the arts in all regions of the country Government funding of the arts ~ slide 7

Government funding for the arts 3. The affordability of the arts There is a tacit social contract between artists and the public The public through the government gives financial support to artists & receives cultural enhancement, de-centralized availability, & absence of price-barriers. Government funding of the arts ~ slide 8

Government funding for the arts What does the artist give? His work? Enhancement of culture? The artist receives money and freedom. Government funding of the arts ~ slide 9