Author: Netzer, Dick

Publication Year: 1973

Media Type: Report

Summary:

As long as public support for the arts was small in amount and sporadic in occurrence, there was little reason to insist that such minor support be extended on the basis of a coherent public policy towards the arts. However, now that we are in an era of large-scale, public support, casual decision-making - about the amount of support and its distribution among the many claimants - is no longer tolerable. There are some real public-policy issues, and little evidence that such issues are being addressed directly. In this article, some of those issues are outlined.

Abstract:

As long as public support for the arts was small in amount and sporadic in occurrence, there was little reason to insist that such minor support be extended on the basis of a coherent public policy towards the arts. However, now that we are in an era of large-scale, public support, casual decision-making - about the amount of support and its distribution among the many claimants - is no longer tolerable. There are some real public-policy issues, and little evidence that such issues are being addressed directly. In this article, some of those issues are outlined. (p. 78).

CONTENTS
The case for public support.
Public support and market failure.
Production costs in the arts.
Subsidizing acquired tastes.
Third-party benefits in the arts.
Subsidies have drawbacks.
Other forms of inefficiency.
The accountability problem.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Funding