Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On 2003-12-11 KCassidy@asc.upenn.edu (Kyle Cassidy) thoughtfully wrote: >for all intents and purposes, there is no government >funding of the arts in america. > Bull. There are tons of local projects all over the United States where art in public places is funded by local governments and local businesses under government mandate. In my opinion that's the RIGHT way because the people closest to the work will fund it and have a say in how it is selected. This doesn't mean that everyone will like it, or even that a majority will, but at least there's a process. The new terminal of the Sacramento airport is great example. The stained glass windows, the sculptures in the baggage area, the tile floor in the main concourse are all works of art, funded by the public, and enjoyed by the public on a daily basis. Here in Davis there are many sculptures in parks and public areas put there as a part of the arts program. Some of them I don't like very well but others are quite wonderful. Maybe it's super to have an agency in Washington that hands out commissions, but from my point of view it's a huge ego trip for the arts foundation people and it doesn't mean diddly to me and I don't benefit from it while the elite NYC crowd probably do. Driving across the country, something I do almost every year, I see many small art projects where local artists are nurtured by local government and business. This is a good thing because it means the money funding the art is local. So it's just WRONG to say that public financing for the arts doesn't exist. It's just not as big at the federal level as it used to be. Good thing, too. Adam Bridge - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html