Author: Martorella, Rosanne

Publication Year: 1982

Media Type: Book

Summary:

Abstract:

Indirect subsidization of the arts has existed for over fifty years, and has included tax exemptions, land grants, urban renewal programs, park and recreation subsidies, and Title II, which provided funds through state education programs. The National Endowment for the Arts was formed in 1965, under President Johnson, with a $2.5 million budget. By 1976, its budget had risen to $126 million. In 1976, NEA awarded block grants of $205,000 to every state and encouraged the development of state arts councils. As a result, twelve hundred community arts agencies presently exist (DiMaggio and Useem, 1978). Netzer outlines government support to the arts in The Subsidized Muse (1978). Table 18 compares government grants with other income sources, including private contributions (unearned income). During the periods covered by the table, government was not the largest income source, but it has subsequently increased. In his analysis, Netzer concludes that goverment support, although minimal, has kept ticket prices down and has not discouraged other private contributions (pp 101-2). By 1980, National Endowment for the Arts appropriations totaled $155 million, but this sum was quickly cut in half under the Reagan administration.

The establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts precipitated a need for a political lobby for the arts. Performing arts organizations found that they had to coordinate their lobbying activities with their competitors, and they looked increasingly to businessmen and financiers with political connections to integrate such efforts.

CONTENTS
Economic Ideology: Nonprofit art.
Political ideology: the democratization of art.
Public accountability; art as service.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Funding