Createquity.: "PENNSYLVANIA
Perhaps the most dramatic story this year has been that of Pennsylvania, where in some versions of the state budget under consideration the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts's $14 million budget would be eliminated. The ripple effect is already taking a toll on Philadelphia, which has announced that it may have to close its own cultural affairs office (just re-opened last year) if other state funding doesn't come through, and where the possible elimination of Pennsylvania's tax credit has forced M. Night Shyamalan's latest movie to Canada. The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance has done a great job organizing the resistance, and you can follow the action on Twitter with the hashtags #savePAarts and #PAbudget."
8 comments:
i think its ridiculous that states are cutting art funds. I know for me that art has been an esental part of my life and has turned it around. It worries me that some people wont get that chance just because a state is being cheap.
I completely agree with Devrie. I understand that budget cuts need to be made, but NOT THE ARTS! Why is it that when states run into trouble, it's art/music/drama education funding that gets cut and not, say, sports teams? Denying a full education to the children that will be the ones to pull us out of this deficit is not only foolish, but neglectful. I know that for myself, art was a huge part of what got me through middle and high school. I had many friends who would have dropped out, had it not been for the arts programs in school. It's not fair that we're depriving children of the chance to grow creatively.
It is so frustrating to see this. Previously attending an arts school where the arts was precedent, it is frustrating to see that other states and schools don't see the impact the arts have on students. IT is a release for some and inspiring for others. I know I wouldn't be here at CMU if it wasn't for my arts high school education. But to now hear from previous teachers that even at an arts school testing and government are making it much harder to hold school plays for fear of loosing funding. Someone needs to stand up and fight. The arts are important, and if children and students are not exposed to them, we will grow up in a much different culture then ever before.
Having worked for an arts outreach program I find the news from all of these states to be continually disheartening. Arts teachers are losing their jobs or being forced to teach content areas outside of their experience and background (a drama teacher teaching math for example). Typically, school plays don't make the front page of the newspaper, but a winning football team will. Besides expressing concerns to the government and organizations who control budgeting, it's also important as artists that we continue to show the community the power of the arts to influence lives. Invite the local newspaper reporters to see performances, provide them with graphics & marketing copy, and show them that art is more than just product. More and more "outreach" programs are popping up to help supplement arts education in schools and finding ways to support these local programs is necessary before they too lose their funding.
Good for Ian David Moss for reminding everyone of how relevant this issues still are. I feel that budget cuts are absolutely necessary in these tough times, but complete elimination of programs is a dangerous proposition because of the difficulties related to starting it all up again.
One of the positive outcomes from this proposal is that it gives organizations a reason to push through research about how much revenue arts programs bring in. The Pittsburgh Business Times was very quick to point out that the film industry is a wonderful source of income for entire communities.
I really feel that art it exactly what people need to get through difficult times. It is their appreciation for and ability to create art that allows they to see the "light at the end of the tunnel." By cutting arts funding you are cutting off entire generations path to a happier and brighter future. How tragic and horrible. I understand that budget cuts are necessary but it seems that they always must come from the arts, which never seems "fair". What about sports? We need to allow our children to grow creatively in order to have an outlet for their feelings.
As everyone has mentioned it is frustrating for those of us who love the arts and consider them an indispensable necessity to see the arts go as soon as money becomes a problem. Reading the bit about Florida where I am from was especially interesting because these drastic cuts are also seen in many schools, especially magnet art programs which are becoming less and less popular, and many of the existing ones closing down. However, I feel that what really struck me about this article was the fact that the issue it is discussing spans to many issues other than art. Often we follow news at the beginning, whether they be health care, business, economic or art related, fiercely keeping up with all the detail. However I find that usually we loose interest before we find out what the outcome of an issue is. This reminds us of how important it is to follow news through to the end.
Arts are always the first to go... and that may never change. But a comment was made, why do to the sports team's needs not get cut. That is because they generate the most revenue. All of that feels beyond our control.
One step in the right direction is that some one is tracking these stories to their conclusion.
It is sad to see the arts suffer in the budgets, but once they are gone, they will be missed and bounce back. We, as artists, just need to find a cheaper way to create the art, which is apart of every project we take on anyway,
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