Author: McLellan, G.A.

Publication Year: 1970

Media Type: Book

Summary:

Abstract:

When the pace of economic growth first began to decelerate towards the end of the past decade, seasoned observers of the arts scene were quick to predict that the arts would experience a sharp decline in corporate support. The gloomy predictions were not entirely unexpected. When the Business Committee for the Arts was formed in 1967 to help increase and diversify business involvement with the arts, the reaction to the event in the arts world was mixed - skepticism and distrust leavened by apathy. Apparently, artists had little confidence that business support would ever become significant or that whatever support emerged would survive the short term public relations advantages which, they assumed, were its principle if not its only motives for existence.

Yet, despite economic stringency and uncertainty about the timing and rate of recovery, there is encouraging evidence that American corporations in increasing numbers are becoming consistent and substantial supporters of the arts in communities from coast to coast. Few businesses limit their support to financing; they have also provided a wide range of expertise to arts organizations, initiated imaginative projects for generating interest in the arts and for making the arts available to a broader public, and sponsored events that intermediate between the worlds of high art and community social action. The diversity of corporate support and participation is illustrated by this small sampling of projects undertaken during the past year.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Private Sector