hyperallergic.com: On Friday, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy decided to cut 41 percent of state appropriations for the University of Alaska system as part of his $444 million line-item veto to the state budget. That caught the attention of major national outlets like the Washington Post and the New York Times. Less discussed was the fate of the state’s arts council, which also suffered a $2.8 million cut under the Republican governor’s veto pen.
2 comments:
I think it’s terrible that Alaska might get rid of the arts agency. Often times, it seems that when budgets need to be cut, arts are the first thing to go, despite how important arts actually are. It is unfair of the government to complete get rid of the arts agency when it is likely very important to so many different people. I think a lot of times, arts are viewed of as a ‘hobby,’ even when they are actual professional jobs that people work really hard on, although it is very possible that this view is just a justification to cut funding for the arts. I’m sure there are other ways Alaska could reconfigure the budget to avoid getting rid of the arts agency, especially after the arts budget had already been cut back in 2018. It’s important that the government and other controlling agencies understand the importance of the arts and fund them.
I have never understood why in our culture the arts can be so influential yet so undervalued. As funding to art's programs is cut from the school to professional level it is essential that the losses are assessed. While the impact of the arts is not as tangible as a scientific discovery I believe that their value is equal to the health of society. My fear is that budget cuts in Alaska will set a precedent to other states that it is alright to defund the arts which is an awful thought. Education is also a victim of these cuts which demonstrates the true motives of politicians and their apathy about important elements of culture and society.
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