CMU School of Drama


Sunday, October 15, 2006

Hunger vs. the Arts

WSJ.com: "Today's philanthropists want to fight disease and poverty -- shortchanging operas and museums. How high culture is fighting for its share of the charity dollar."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The article didn't talk about arts organizations trying to get donations from companies. I wonder which become more important, individual donators or company donations. I bet if individuals start becoming the majority of donators, it will drive marketing deptartments off the wall.
-serrano

Harriet said...

After spending four summers at Ravinia and hearing about the donors there I often wonder why they don't put their money to better use? But, in truth, it's really the attitude of those donors. In truth, the arts deserve just as much recognition as any other philanthropic organization and while they might not be used to stop hunger, they can be used as a method of awareness.
-Harriet Sogin

Christopher said...

Maybe my priorities are in the wrong place, but I hadn't ever thought about this issue until I read the article. I know plenty of people who give money to the arts, money to charities, money to both, and no money to anyone.
It seems that who they give money to is dependant on the individual. There are enough opportunities to give money and they all make themselves known, the person picks what they want to support. I don't see much opportunity for convincing someone to take money away from the AIDS children to go to the dancers. So they are smart to put their energy towards getting money from people interested in their cause.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately I have to say that I do not disagree with those who have decided to donate money to philanthropic organization that supports education and health rather than those that support the arts. I may be young and idealistic but art and theater can happen without million dollar theaters while AIDS treatment for African orphans will not happen without that money. While I would enjoy working for a well endowed theater rather than one without and that the arts should get money as well, if it needs to be a choice, Id choose those that couldn’t live without my financial support.

-Kim Allen-Poole