Author: California State Legislature, Joint Committee on the Arts

Publication Year: 1974

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This report attempts to address itself to certain difficult and fundamental questions: What values do the arts offer people, both as participants in artistic creation and as responders to the arts? What are the prominent, unfulfilled needs of artists, audiences and the larger public in California? What are the dangers of government involvement in the arts? what can state government do for the arts that cannot be done otherwise by other levels of government or private efforts? What responsibility does the state have to artists, audiences and arts organizations? If it acts, what is its proper role? The Committee believes that the most responsive state arts program can result from careful answers to those questions. We hope that the conclusions in this report will provide a sound philosophical basis for the activities of state government in the arts for decades to come. (p. 2)

Abstract:

This report attempts to address itself to certain difficult and fundamental questions: What values do the arts offer people, both as participants in artistic creation and as responders to the arts? What are the prominent, unfulfilled needs of artists, audiences and the larger public in California? What are the dangers of government involvement in the arts? what can state government do for the arts that cannot be done otherwise by other levels of government or private efforts? What responsibility does the state have to artists, audiences and arts organizations? If it acts, what is its proper role? The Committee believes that the most responsive state arts program can result from careful answers to those questions. We hope that the conclusions in this report will provide a sound philosophical basis for the activities of state government in the arts for decades to come. (p. 2)

CONTENTS
1. History of California government involvement in the arts.
    The need for the joint committee on the arts.

2. The conclusions and recommendations of this report.

3. Should the state encourage the arts? 

A. Value of the arts. 
B. How the arts relate to state government. 
C. Economic reasons marginally justify state encouragement of the arts. 
D. Popular or commercial arts provide meaningful experiences to many
    people and do not appear to need state assistance.

4. How we think the state should encourage the arts. 

A. Basic considerations. 
B. Recommended mechanisms and funding. 
C. Changes in the California Arts Commission or successor agency. 
D. Miscellaneous comments on the suggested programs.

5. Why not direct subsidies to arts organizations and artists? 

A. This kind of subsidy funding begets pork barrel politics. 
B. Ongoing subsidy grants beget flabby institutions unresponsive 
     to the public. 
C. We reject arguments for government assistance to the arts tailored
     to rationalize subsidy.

 I. The Future.
II. Appendices.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Participation, Funding, Artists-Resources for