Arts in America webisodes

Ovation TV launches webisode series Arts in America

Their conversation touched on a lot of really interesting issues, including: the value of creativity, how we pay for the arts, and what leaders might do to help the arts. As a citizen, and an advocate for the arts, I question our government's spending priorities. We're spending billions and billions to save companies too large to fail, and not enough on smaller bailouts - including arts bailouts - that would reap larger and more widespread economic benefits. Michael Kaiser, arts organization guru and current President of the Kennedy Center wrote in the Washington Post that "the arts in the United States provide 5.7 million jobs and account for $166 billion in economic activity annually." According to the GM website, that company employs just 252,000 - and that's globally - not just in the United States. Why are we not spending more to save arts institutions? Given the many compelling priorities facing the administration such as the economy and Healthcare reform, and the competition for funding, I think public discussion about the arts, arts education and America's cultural system is critical.