Readers' Forum: Federal Funding for the Arts?

Abstract

How are we to fund the arts if not through the NEA? Is there a need for a funding organization on the national level? Where should the money come from? These are core questions that have been repeated over the past few years as the debate concerning federal funding of the arts has reached a fever pitch with the Republican takeover of Congress. Just last week, Republican leaders once again spoke of "zeroing-out" the organization within the context of the new budget agreement. My political affiliation as a conservative Republican with libertarian leanings perhaps qualifies me as unique among the readers of TDR. I have frequently been torn between my love of the arts and my loathing of government bureaucracy and have often skirted the fence concerning the issue of the NEA. Working "within" the Right's political boundaries, it is nice to be able to e-mail Ohio Senator Mike Dewine with the information that I actually voted for him in the last election and plan on doing so again, so long as he votes to continue funding for the embattled agency. In the end, however, I believe the NEA is doomed if it continues to depend upon government funding for its existence.