Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Arts Need Better Arguments

I have my own personal feelings about this article in today's Wall Street Journal. Let's just say I lost my job with a tiny non-profit due specifically to the lack of funding opportunities my organization would normally benefit from as a result of the ailing economy. The well has run dry as so many are competing for so little. You simply can not compare the financial stability of a New York Metropolitan Opera sized non-profit to the much smaller non-profits that are in greater abundance like the one I worked for. These days every little bit counts, even if it's "just" $50 million dollars. Maybe Mr. Sandow needs a reality check?
Posted by at

3 comments:

  1. hjxFebruary 18, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    I think the point he wants to make is not about "Arts, especially those organisations that serve posh people, shouldn't get that share of money". It is about...well, as literal as the title: the arts need better arguments.

    I kept thinking, since ages ago, kept thinking about how are the arts going to justify themselves? There is no doubt that the arts should be valued, but there is also no doubt that there are more important/basic things that keep our daily lives functioning.

    The true value of arts does not lie in these figures - "generate $166 billion in economic activity each year, and offer the equivalent of full-time employment to 5.7 million souls." Does anyone want to work in the arts because of its "economic value"?

    What arts can provide is indescribable. That's why we stick to our art, that's why we want to share, and there is a need to spread this feeling to a wider audience... so that in the future, they find it hard to make the choice: should we cut funding in the public sector, or should we cut the arts?

    What do you think?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Miss HaleyFebruary 10, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    H Jessica,
    I'm a student at Western Carolina University and I'm doing a research project about ballet dancers and health, nutrition, exercise, flexibility, and injury prevention. I'm currently working to gather research and quotes from experts to use for the project. Could I get you to answer a few questions for me?

    Thank you for your time,
    Haley Mathiot
    haleymathiot@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 30, 2014 at 12:01 PM

    Hi Jessica,

    I recently wrote an article that delves into this topic. It is a very important topic of discussion at this time and I would love to start a further dialogue. Here is the link to the article. https://anabellalenzu.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/am-i-going-to-get-a-job-its-highly-unlike/

    Best,
    Anabella Lenzu

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)