Hey America, Take Some Advice from Mother

Lindsay Live | Mar 17, 2008 | there are 1 comments 1

Why is public arts funding so controversial in America?

Are we really so terrified that public money will be used for subversive and "obscene" art like Serrano's Piss Christ?

If so, can we justify depriving our country of artistic expression simply to protect the supposed sensitivities of a few people?

No, we can't and we shouldn't. More threatening to our society than the possibility of "obscene" art is not enough art.

What we should do is step up and take some advice from our friends across the Atlantic.

Earlier today, the British government revealed plans to institute a £5.5 million program called Strictly Youth Dancing, an initiative that will increase dance education in public schools and create six new centers for dance education by 2011.

Now why is it that America, the greatest country in the world, fails to see the value in these kinds of dance education initiatives and other publicly funded art?

And before you cry out about the so-called evils of socialism, think about other programs like public school, Social Security, Medicare, and even the police and fire departments. We have no problem paying for public programs and agencies, but when it comes to art, especially dance, that's when we seem to throw a fit.

But seriously, enough already with President Bush and his party's agenda driven attack on art. It's time for us to step up and prove we're the progressive place we claim to be by urging our elected officials to support art related legislation. And hopefully, our next president will lead our country forward in a new way of thinking, one that embraces art and recognizes the value of dance.

Perhaps we can start by taking some much needed advice from our mothercountry.

As Tony Hall of the Royal Opera House explains, "Dance answers lots of the issues young people face from expressing their creativity, to working in teams, tackling obesity, or just having fun. I am delighted the Government is acting on our ideas."

I'd be delighted if America acted on those ideas as well.

 

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tags Ballet, Enthusiast, Funding, Government, Politics (all tags)


Hey America, Take Some Advice from Mother | 1 Comment | Post a Comment
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Hostile?

I'm not sure that America is hostile toward art.  I think America is by and large ignorant or uneducated about art and its value to a society. There are groups within the country who certainly seem to oppose free thinking and maybe even fear the power of art and, although these groups seem to hold a lot of sway, I don't think those groups equal America.  

There is a catch 22 in public funding - the government won't act until the people speak out, but the people won't speak out unless art becomes a priority in their minds (which funded art programs tend to facilitate). Like it or not, that's our current system. Therefore, artists and art supporters need to get creative with their programs, funding sources, and grassroots campaigns to promote art. It's not fair, it's not right, but it's where we are right now.

DanceAdvantage.net a comprehensive resource for students of dance and their teachers. user icon danceadvantage | Jul 02, 2008 | rated none by 0 others

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