Should Art Be Publicly Funded?

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Public funding for the arts is a hotly-debated topic, but let's look at where arts funding goes, what it accomplishes, and how we compare internationally. Check out Origin of Everything's take!: • Why Does the Governmen... .
Thanks to our Grandmaster of the Arts Vincent Apa, and all of our patrons, especially Ian Eudailey, Patrick Hanna, Nichole Hicks, Eve Leonard, David Moore, Ever Morales, Jane Quale, and Constance Urist. To support our channel, visit: / artassignment .
Thumbnail image depicts Urban Bush Women, whose work has been funded by the NEA: www.urbanbushwomen.org.
#art #arthistory #artsfunding #NEA

[@Johnnythecableguy]

The disclaimer in the beginning let’s you know shit’s about to get real.

[@cvgurau]

man I missed this show. I binged 5 years worth of content in a couple of weeks and now that I'm mostly caught up, it feels like ages pass between episodes. They make me think critically about aspects of art I'd dismissed almost without consideration, and appreciate more some of the things I already loved. I deeply appreciate this show and hope it continues for a long time.

[@theartassignment]

So glad you've found us, and thank you for watching and contributing to the discussion.

[@fomoriii]

learning about french arts funding made me cry. im so jealous

[@mojojojoplus2]

It gets even worse when you think about our relative populations: 67 million in France vs 327 million in the US. We have 4.88 times the population, so really, a direct comparison would be if the US government spent 19.5 billion on the arts instead of the 152 million we currently do, or to put it another way: France spends over 128 times more per capita on the arts than we do.

[@istrandar2777]

As french student I can tell you how amazing having government help is amazing. I plan to go to the Louvre tomorrow and I don't even have to think to the price, as a student it is free. This help so many personnes to learn about art and culture at a young age. And after that you grow use to go to museum and you keep doing it. Of course it has it's downside with the high amounth of taxes but I feel like it is worth it

[@ngyufeng6205]

@@ubbdaubermensch1528 yeah american movies are too oversensationalised sometimes and dont have much depth

[@halifaxx55]

Yes, also if you're unemployed in france as an artist, you qualify for MORE money than if you had worked in an industry that was non art.

[@esquizz0]

And despite that, French artists/companies think the government should invest more money.

[@sakuradeva555]

In Panama our capital is about to turn 500 years old, the municipio has started a campaign to find artists to create murals all over the city and they are so beautiful, Panama doesn't have a big street art community but seeing these murals adorn the city is a lovely way to celebrate the city, the art and the diverse group of people that started this country. Wonderful video as usual I think it is worth it to spend money on the arts.

[@nicolasivan4451]

Panama has the best ideas damn !

[@sakuradeva555]

@@nicolasivan4451 we don't lolol I'm sure other places have done it but I'm glad they did it, but if you wanna check out the murals check out the hashtag #Mural500 or #PANAMA500 on insta they are really amazing.

[@Ivanmaradonaaa]

Panama should be part of Colombia tho, another state created by US interests. You should try reunification with Colombia

[@sakuradeva555]

@@Ivanmaradonaaa no thanks we are a mess all by ourselves don't need to add to that

[@Ivanmaradonaaa]

@@sakuradeva555 Solo digo que ustedes son como Israel, pero bueno, espero que un futuro las cosas cambien

[@bidaubadeadieu]

I am a political science student, and I love when questions of public policy intersect with issues of art and access and community empowerment and education like this. Art is such an interesting world in how it links us all together.

[@theartassignment]

I so agree. "Art" very unfortunately tends to get siloed off, rather than thought of as an aspect of so many different parts of life.

[@Xenolilly]

Art is for all people. The ability to create something beautiful or meaningful or both is instrumental for a happy and full life.

[@pendlera2959]

@J .S Art is not created solely by masters. And the market is a terrible way to determine what counts as "good art" the same way it's a terrible way of determining what counts as a "good job". The market is too easy to saturate, especially with modern technology. When I can print out the Mona Lisa on my home printer or set up a monitor on my wall to switch to a new artwork from Deviantart every 30 seconds, why would I ever pay for a real painting from a local artist?

[@wes4439]

@@pendlera2959 +

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

@@pendlera2959 If anything, the market seems to be the fairest arbitrator of what is good or bad.

[@jpabcede5016]

@@marlonmoncrieffe0728 And then you look at pop music and mainstream cinema and hear people complain why these forms of art are catered to the lowest common denominator. If you're for that side of the argument, then I respect your opinion and views. As for me, I'm neither here nor there as I consume saccharine products while at the same time appreciate artworks created with passion. I'm not saying that my viewpoint is better than yours, but consider the hill where you want to die on.

[@ChristopherSmith-il6fo]

it's a great day when Art Assignment and Origin of Everything combine forces!

[@johncharlesbricker]

agreed!

[@indubitablyzara]

I grew up in a rural town of 10,000 that was and is a sort of hub for much of the surrounding area. The local arts council and the funding they received from various sources, including the NEA, opened up my world from a young age and introduced me to art forms I never would have experienced otherwise, including ballet, live radio plays, and modern dance. For a lot of my childhood I’m not sure I fully realized how amazing it was that I got to see performers like the Alvin Ailey dance company and the Vienna Boys Choir, usually at no cost, in my hometown that was and still is two hours from the nearest Starbucks or Barnes and Noble. As an adult it couldn’t be clearer how essential it was in forming who I am now.

[@Anduiln]

It is worth noting that France's participation in the arts extends into other areas than just the "consumer" end. In the performing arts (including theatre and cinema), many workers (performers, designers and all the other artists whose work goes into a production) are in and out of contracts, and work as freelancers in most countries, making their situation very precarious. France has for a long time had a unique status for these workers, that of the "intermittent du spectacle" (literally intermittent [workers] in entertainment). This status ensures that workers in the performing arts are given contracts as employees (even if short-term), which gives them more job security, and ensures employers provide sick leave and pay social security and other contributions. Additionally, intermittents have access to benefits in between jobs (conditional to having worked a certain amount of time in the previous year). It's hard to overstate how important the status is to workers in the performing arts in France. Despite many cuts being made to the system and access to it having been made harder, and despite the benefits provided being very limited in scope (just enough to keep one afloat between gigs), the status allows a degree of stability in a field of work that typically is intensely precarious and stressful. It would be interesting to consider how such a system could be consolidated and expanded to other artists, in a way that would fundamentally support artists from less privileged backgrounds on the long term. There are (obviously) many issues with the system that I can get into if anyone is interested, but I find it an interesting approach to the problem of funding artists that does not take into account the art created, and it's one that I haven't seen anywhere outside of France (I might be wrong, though!).

[@thesmartonepoint0]

I'm interested. Tell us more.

[@VashdaCrash]

Some issues could be obvious, like artists tking advantage of the system, but I'd like to hear more about that. Also, thank you for the commentary thus far.

[@thesmartonepoint0]

@@VashdaCrash honestly I've never gotten the big deal with people taking advantage of things. If they need it they should have it.

[@VashdaCrash]

@@thesmartonepoint0 actually, I don't think I get it either. Must be a cultural thing

[@marasherman5888]

One thing I wish we could do as a culture is move away from talking about art just for what it does for the economy or for education, and instead talk more about its intrinsic value. When arguing for public funding we rely too much on "funding art solves x problem" instead of "funding art makes art possible, and art is valuable in and of itself."

[@theartassignment]

Agree! That's a tougher case to make in budget and finance meetings, though. Personally, I try to make that argument in videos that release every other week on this channel ;).

[@marasherman5888]

@@theartassignment Absolutely -- its *really* hard to say "you should give my organization funds so we can foster the expression of communal meaning and enrich all of our lives" when the people handing out money also have to think about things like literacy or fitness or the economy or or or or.... which is why I really appreciate channels like the Art Assignment, which make such a clear and cohesive case for the inherent value of Art in all of our lives. :)

[@wes4439]

+

[@spelcheak]

Doesn't make any sense. Those are proofs of it's value, they don't take away from it's value, they validate it.

[@GameofKnowing]

Everyone @ 2:30 : Yeah, but what about Guam? Sarah @ 2:31 : I'm glad you asked...

[@dianaschmitt8854]

Only if the funding does not interfere with the art. Art therapy for hospice patients is invaluable. Really tired of ignorant people who do not realize how important art is to the human brain.

[@dianaschmitt8854]

Taxpayers are forced to pay for MANY things they do not want to pay for. We do it it for the Greater Good. Ya know, that little thing we like call “humanity.” Google it. Enlightening,

[@sylvestregagnon5681]

Diana Schmitt people did not wait for the government to exist to make art. And art would exist without public funding. Public funding means to have money you have to please the government not the public. It doesnt not means in any way that art would be better Since it -non commercial-. All great artist of the past had to deal with the public Since they could not live without it. This is probably the first générations of artist who live without public approval.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

@@dianaschmitt8854 Are you a Utilitarian?

[@1tutree4GO]

This is super interesting and great provocation for dialogue! Thanks Sarah & Art Assignment team :)

[@Paulinemoke]

Thoughts from Germany here: this is a rather interesting discussion about what goverment is actually supposed to do. These funds are supposed to curate art projects to entertain and inspire the public, to teach about art and history of art. I absolutely support funding for the arts and I am thankful that Germany as a state and the states within take it seriously (mostly). However, it is also there to support a certain conception of art, one that is confined to certain spaces, guarded by regulations and permissions. Graffiti is also art, no? Yet it is removed. So it is equally important to support artists and artist collectives, especially in crowd fund types. To critique the visions the state-funded art.

[@OlliHazard]

Pauline - The downside of subsidized art in Germany is that it tends to push leftist political art.

[@theartassignment]

Thanks for bringing in this perspective. In the US, the NEA relies on advisory boards made up a diverse range of art voices (at least now, if not historically). Often these boards have a surprisingly progressive and wide view of what is "art," and the art institutions they fund support artists who offer viewpoints critical to the powers that be. I'm not sure of how those decisions are made in Germany, but I'd be curious to know. The NEA currently offers the following guidelines for those applying for grants: "We encourage applications for artistically excellent projects that address any of the following activities: 1) Honor the 2020 centennial of women’s voting rights in the United States (aka the Women’s Suffrage Centennial). 2) Engage with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Hispanic or Latino organizations; or the Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian arts. 3) Celebrate America’s creativity and cultural heritage. 4) Invite a dialogue that fosters a mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all persons and groups. 5) Enrich our humanity by broadening our understanding of ourselves as individuals and as a society."

[@movimentodoscacos]

I know that in Brazil graffiti has been both funded and erased by government forces, it's a complicated subject, that is, which art is being funded and WHY is that specific art being funded... Insteresting provocation by you, I was thinking the same thing.

[@Paulinemoke]

@@theartassignment That was a very quick post and I am so happy to see the ansers! I took a while since I wanted to make sure my information was still up to date. So "culture" is financed through three seperate state levels in Germany: the Federal (14%), State (42%), and 'city' [German: Gemeinden] (44%) [Source: bit.ly/2vWT9Ol). That's also how the budget gets so high in country comparison, I think, since all different levels assign their own cultural budget. This structure mirrors how Germany works in general, and is similar to the US, I guess (?). They all have their different boards. Which means, lots of different finance opportunities, which in theory means different political and arts background. However, 1) there are still limitations on what can be funded (coming from the Federal level) 2) the art scene in Germany is smaller in quantity, and I feel like trends in a scene and on boards faster affect what art is funded. An example can be found in art about and by refugees in the last 5 years (that's still a master thethis waiting to happen, I think). As a topic of poltical, personal and emotional interest it immedeatly translated into the arts (so far, so great). The way it happened, however, I feelt like was very streamlined, not as divers as I might have expected. I think that comes from all bigger cities thinking simulatiously: how, we ought to out out a call for art about our cities history of migration. So we ger similar play ideas in different cities, for example.

[@hannahkointa3297]

Do ya know the Hamilton musical? (Thumbnail)

[@Fala_Elias]

This is a fantastic video, but also as a Brazilian living under our current administration I did cry a little bit at the info about France's art funding initiatives.

[@scottoconnor]

Public funding should go to support the vision of the artist rather than asking the artist to change their vision to accommodate the public. One of the biggest things the government could do to fund art would be to provide artist's with affordable housing/studio space (mixed use zoning) to help the artist's to keep producing their own art at their own pace :)

[@Delta888ful]

Maybe this idea should spill over to universities, who are many times the biggest offenders of changing artists to accommodate the public and the university's agenda and reputation.

[@view-camera-queen]

Great video Sarah! Lets us see art funding in several contexts. ...of course art has an intrinsic value, for those of us who have had access to art in one way or another understand. I think the research you discussed on how it improves education, the economy, etc is a byproduct of its value and is a great way to explain art to folks who think it isn’t valuable or necessary.

[@TheFlrom]

Im a fine art student and i completely attribute my passion for art to two things. 1) living in london and going to free art galleries as a kid every weekend 2) going to schools which highly valued arts education. needless to say im very lucky to be able to do what i love for the rest of my life.

[@BiodegradableYTP]

Considering the vast quantities of money the US government puts into the military, I'm surprised there'd be any left to fund anything else.

[@tipperzack]

There is a major art department that the USA military support. You should check it out. Either way the military needs a pay cut. thenmusa.org/army-art.php

[@jupiter0jupiter]

Great episode. Those numbers blew me away! Love the app idea they made in france

[@MCAndyT]

1:36 I'm reminded of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 27: "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits."

[@lauraghitoi9809]

this video needs more views as this topic needs more constructive and fac-based discussions. amazingly well put together and researched.

[@earlfenwick]

A recent visit to Berlin-the city whose arts budget dwarfs the entire USA's (I believe)- reminded me the staggering impact of the arts on the economy there. How many hotel rooms, airline flights, cab rides, meals and souvenirs are bought so that people can come to the city to enjoy the arts? One hell of a lot. In the long view, it looks to me like the money spent is insignificant compared to the return.

[@MCAndyT]

A big factor too is their visas for artists, Like I've had 2 friends who were able to move to Berlin for 3 years and work as artists w/o a lot of the hassle that comes with being a worker in another country...

[@nicolaspaulmoreale9728]

I love this videos! Greetings from Buenos Aires :)

[@normanstratford9329]

Around 1980 America was leading the way with art therapy and I was interested in the way therapy was approached. Psychology was part of it and it was a means to talk to a patient. This is also part of the diverse features of art, however things has moved on since that time.

[@super_rish]

Great video. Thank you so much

[@KannikCat]

To answer the question succinctly: Yes, very much so. To get more nuanced (and political/sociological), if wealth and income weren't so unequally distributed, I think there would be less need for public funding as people would have the resources to support all kinds of art (as opposed to barely being able to feed/house/clothe themselves). Not zero need though -- as you say there's great value in supporting art that goes against our monetary impulses and especially in art that is beyond our expectations (or "bland" cultural acceptability). Collective action is great, and collective support to generate that which is beyond our individual financial capacity is thus equally great, whether very modest or, well, France. (Loved that line! :D)

[@donovanmedieval]

Artists are the vanguard in turning bad neighborhoods into good ones. But the result is often that the law-abiding, hard-working people who had been living in those neighborhoods, and the artists themelves, have nowhere to go.

[@MCAndyT]

As an artist living in Detroit, it's never been my intention to "turn a bad neighborhood into a good one" There's a lot of subtext when it comes to how a neighborhood is defined/perceived as being good/bad that I don't even want to get into but, I will say, intentional or not, artists (or Richard Florida's "creatives") are, as you say, the vanguard of gentrification and inevitably end up being the "canaries in the coal mine". I was kicked out of my neighborhood of 10 years due to the onslaught of redevelopment brought upon by folks who claim to love the arts. #ARTWASHING #don'tknowwhattodo

[@charrmed]

"starving artist" shouldn't be a thing and museums should not be rely on the donations from the wealthy.

[@matsoosterveld]

Seeing how these numbers relate to the countries’ GDP and GDP/C would be very relevant

[@Beryllahawk]

"When does art stop being a critical part of our lives?" *IT DOESN'T.* We just get lied to until we believe it, that it's for museums or...whatever else. Many of us end up consumers of art, without being able to devote the time and effort to really think about art at all. Being able to learn about art is more than learning to draw a picture, more than learning about the famous paintings of the past, more even than learning about how politics can shape art both because of funding and because of the force of public opinion in the political sphere (I'm thinking about the naked men photographs and the ongoing debate about what "counts" as obscene). But kids learn far, far more than all this. They learn the most important aspect of art, the thing that makes it critical to our lives as human beings. Art connects human souls. It lets us glimpse the inside of someone else's head, someone else's life. Metaphorically we can stand in their shoes, if not walk a mile in them. You can't hate people so easily, when you have been in the sitting room of their minds and hearts. You can't keep them at an arm's length, safely othered, nothing like you and yours. They can't be aliens, and it's much harder to make them your enemy because of that. And because of that, *you* are not the enemy. You are not alone anymore, locked in your own head with no one to hear you. *You* make the art, and let people peek inside of what *you* think and feel. Even if that art may not seem amazing to you, it is still capable of that connection and it is still important, it still has the potential to impact someone else. Of course it matters, and of course people are better for having art in their lives - but there appear to be forces in our world that want to take that away from some people and keep it for only the special few. To me, that is an evil as encompassing and horrible as mass murder.

[@weirdral]

It still amazes me to see Sarah after so many years of her being the Yeti. I love this series and love that she is the host.

[@MrVivianH]

Sarah you are doing incredibly important work and deserve 10x as much credit as you're getting right now

[@mr51406]

Love your videos Sarah, thanks as ever. 🌹⭐️☮️❤️ The Canada Council for the Arts, the equivalent of the US NEA, gets like $300 million per year. And there are 10 times fewer people in Canada. The total budget for the Quebec ministry of Culture is $700 million, 1,3% of the total provincial budget. That’s things like arts, libraries, books, music, education, community media, museums... It’s helped a little nation like Quebec keep its language, but beyond that too it helps us thrive. Think Cirque du Soleil. Since 1961 all infrastructure projects have to have 1% of the budget given to art work. Montreal has one of the most beautiful metros in the world, critically acclaimed art and architecture. It helps tourism too. Public art funding makes us all better people. If you want to be totally capitalist about it, you could say it makes a happier, better educated and more productive workforce. Excellent return on investment, no? Oscar Wilde said art is useless, but I think he would especially say that it’s priceless. (It’s like the goal of some of those running your country is to have a dumb, servile populace... Surely that can’t be right? 😜)

[@theartassignment]

Yes! More evidence of the superiority of Canada and Canadians. Thank you for enlightening us. There is indeed a Capitalist argument to be made in favor of the arts, but imho it goes so, so much beyond that. Thanks for contributing to this conversation.

[@mr51406]

You’re most welcome! Of course I’m a total lefty... 🌹 I do love the possible Churchill quote! And thank you again for always remembering to be awesome! 🍁☮️❤️

[@fran6b]

11:25 «exit through the gift shop», nice quote!

[@robcoghan5204]

I am a docent, the time I give is most joyful, I have been and continue collecting information all my life, sharing with others is most human.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

I don't know how wide spread this is but in Rhode Island where I lived for about 25 years, there is a law that requires a certain percentage of any publicly funded construction project to be set aside for some sort of art installation. I think you know the kind I am talking about. Usually it looks like the "artist" went to the junkyard and randomly dug up a ton of scrap metal and randomly welded it together and pronounced it "art." Then they charged the state the required percentage for the "art" installation. A committee of "experts" usually none who have ever attended an arts related course let alone ever actually made any art, decide from a group of applicants, who is worthy to be hired to create said installation. The fee is already determined as the requisite percentage as stated in the law so all they have to do is find the "artist" whose work generally sells for that price range. The more bizarre looking the "artist's" body of work is the more likely they are to get the commission. I have a much better idea. Do this. Hold a contest. Let middle school and high school art students enter. Have them create whatever they think best suits the location. Have the public (since they are the ones footing the bill) judge whose works are best. Then install that work (which is most likely astronomically superior to 99.99999999999% of the "art" you will find in such installations anyway) and then award art scholarships in the requisite amount to the children whose works have been chosen for the installation. The requirements of the law will be fulfilled and a new generation of artists will get proper training and perhaps we may be lucky to foster a real artist or two in the process.

[@squareinsquare2078]

I just discovered this channel, it's my new favourite, totally love it! I work with many different arts groups in Dublin, Ireland, on a wide variety of projects. This June we are making a two kilometre paper rope that is going to hang through the streets of Tallaght, an area with a poor national reputation but with burgeoning art and culture scene and an amazingly diverse population. Our projects are funded by the Irish Arts Council, the European Union, and other agencies. We work tirelessly, putting in much more than we get out. Without funding, none of this would be possible. Love your arts, support your arts, enjoy your arts, because without them your life will be all the more duller.

[@MCAndyT]

Sounds cool!

[@Catrionao]

this is my research for meeting my city arts council officer tomorrow! good timing art assignment!

[@theartassignment]

How did it go??

[@Catrionao]

@@theartassignment It went great, I'm a curatorial resident in TACTIC, and starting as exhibition coordinator in August so I was going through the programme I have set for the next year ( still some work I have to do on that) but yeah it was very exciting and I just can't believe I'm going to be paid for something I love... ramble over

[@irinipapaioanou4705]

Can you please do a "The case of..." video about Watsky, Bo Burnham, Tim Minchin? I would love to see what you have to say about my favourite artists!

[@pdthorn]

I remember on Inauguration Day tweeting for a Case for the NEA. Glad it finally became real!

[@theartassignment]

It's been brewing for a while!

[@DekeSouldier]

This video is IMPORTANT!

[@GustavoBakunin]

I am really glad to see this video and really sad that Brazil is going the complete opposite way of what is being said here. Luckily we'll improve in the future.

[@lorenabpv]

Eu quero responder algo inteligente, mas pra falar a verdade só fico frustrada com tudo o que tá rolando mesmo :/

[@rabahelaawar2499]

Bless you a zillion times for this amazing video 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@TauTau1]

great video, great topic, great channel. What is the building at 10:06?

[@MCAndyT]

It's the new Broad Museum in LA. Be sure to check out the Broad Museum in Lansing, MI @ MSU, designed by the late, great Zaha Hadid!

[@juliaholland9900]

i never even thought to think about this

[@futurestoryteller]

Sometimes I get the impression that "Very modest to, well.... France" is a sentence that applies to many things outside how much money is spent on the arts.

[@patw.6567]

Yay another video

[@thxu4_the_venom657]

i didn't even realize what i was getting into when i clicked on the video i just saw hamilton and clicked... but im very glad i did cause im quite intrigued now

[@devandestudios128]

I'd give this a heart if I could, instead of a thumbs up, so I did here ❤️. And am again here ❤️.

[@MsFredWeasley]

I wish I had an art app like Tinder... The arts are so important, I wish more people knew that.

[@theartassignment]

How would your ideal art app work? There are some decent ones out there, but they're not like Tinder, and they really only work if you're in a giant art city. The challenge as I see it would be making it work in smaller cities and towns!

[@MsFredWeasley]

The Art Assignment I been thinking of this since you posted the video. I think the best way that it could work is as a classified ad/what’s happening app. I think especially in smaller cities and town, it would have to be more broad art/culture events that you could sub categories down. So the first screen you put in your zip code and a mile radius and date range. The next screen you would have choices like art galleries, museums, live shows (theatre and dance), art house theaters, live bands (?), and a miscellaneous tile. Once you click on the the kind of art you are looking for it would bring up a list what’s going on. Cool features would be, if you were planning an art trip, you could star a number of events you would like to see to organize your trip a bit. To make it work, especially in smaller areas, you need to get your art community to buy into it. They would have to both be willing to post their event and let their patrons know as well. Another avenue to build the content as well is schools. Most school shows aren’t the best whether for art or theatre, however normally there are one or two jewels hidden in there. So a gallery owner post on the app about show they are opening in a couple of weeks, they see the high school two towns over is having their spring art show. For shits and giggles she checks it out, most is what she expected however one young artist catches her eye. They make a connection. Or one of those kids, show off they their art show is in this app, sees event for a gallery they didn’t even know was just a few miles away.

[@Al_Bx]

Where did the bottle go ? Also, very surprised, and glad, as a french by how much we spend on art. And even more so very surprised, and proud, by how much *more* we spend than the richest country in the world (or the rest of the world for that matter).

[@illinoislew]

The rural picture at 8:05.........where and when was that taken?

[@theartassignment]

That would be a still from the movie The Hunger Games.

[@MCAndyT]

hilarious

[@lioariston5457]

What is the "image that might offend you" at 11:12?

[@theartassignment]

It's a photograph taken at a protest at the Corcoran Gallery of Art following their cancellation of a controversial Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition in 1989. The image projected onto the side of the building is a self-portrait by Mapplethorpe.

[@HenkJanBakker]

Simple answer? Sure. There is still art that benefits from funding. Like theatre and museums. They are ways of connecting artists to an audience. Here in the Netherlands we have 'the percentage rule' where every project over 1 million euro's that the government invests in a percentage (that was 1%- 1.5%) has to be spent on art. Since 1974 some 2500 pieces of art have been realized. It makes sense. For years, even as far back as the 50's there has been some for of artists subsidy. The last evolution was a maximum of 4 year supplement of an artists income to get serious and did not have to juggle a day job. This ended in 2013. For artists as a person there is no state subsidy any more. Now there is only the 'contest'-model where you enter a design and the best artist 'wins' the prize to make it a reality. There are still scholarships and in resident programs but even these seem to die out as well. The only real address where an artist may find some financial help is www.mondriaanfonds.nl/

[@JoRiver11]

Unlike here, where the regional health authority built a super fancy new office building right downtown, and then asked artists to give their work for free, saying that they were doing us a favour because they would be "clearing space" in our studios so that we could make more work!

[@HenkJanBakker]

@@JoRiver11 LOL. Yeah that happens here too. Or; "It would be great exposure for you if you were to exhibit here." Or worse: "So you are a struggling artist? You don't make a living with your art? So basically it's a hobby? Then I don't have to pay much either right?"

[@MCAndyT]

@ JoRiver11 & @Henk-Jan Bakker: Booo! I hate it when people try to pull that one on you!

[@isabubbles]

Give us bread, but give us roses, too.

[@naomimetzger3878]

Hi! I was wondering what's written in the poster behind Sarah (looks like it's some Arabic language)...

[@theartassignment]

It is in Arabic and reads "Conflict Kitchen." It was a Pittsburgh restaurant (now closed) that served cuisine from countries with which the United States is in conflict. Different menus they offered came from Iran, Afghanistan, Venezuela, North Korea, Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Palestine. For more info: www.conflictkitchen.org/

[@Jay-to7yz]

me: * sees thumbnail * wait was hamilton publicly funded

[@christophercrimmins6143]

Who decides who's an artist and gets funding?

[@AngryPeopleStudios]

I know it wasn't the point, but if I see Mapplethorpe I press LIKE Also fingercross that the USA goverment get's into more funding. It does wonders for the diversification and consumption of art (at least it has where I live)

[@Moscato_Moscato]

Yes!! It’s important that no one gets denied the privilege to create or even enjoy art!

[@lorenabpv]

Something I learned recently that has less about funding but has public interference nonetheless is that in a city here in my country, every building over a certain square footage (like 10000) has to have a piece of art too. I find this kinda cool for a big city

[@HenkJanBakker]

Oh it has everything to do with funding. That art did not come for free.

[@lorenabpv]

@@HenkJanBakker they are privately funded in private buildings, like, you have to encompass the public art in your project to get construction approval from the city, but it's within the building's budget

[@MCAndyT]

Yeah, there's a common policy of "percent for art". I've commonly encountered 1% of the budget for the new building must include purchasing of art to decorate/activate the space. I believe there are lots of cities that have ordinances for this. Pretty cool...

[@lorenabpv]

@@MCAndyT sadly mine doesn't, but this one is a relatively big city so it's a pretty good idea for it to happen there

[@jodfrut771]

When I learned john green was your husband, my mind was blown and heart warmed.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Get out! She is??? Whoa!

[@fluxus4637]

Yes!

[@JC.Holland]

In the Netherlands the government subsidises culture and 🎨

[@numbersix9468]

i would never think of forcing my neighbor to pay for my art

[@richconway3640]

Dear God was that Churchill or W.C Fields.?

[@mihaipalimariciuc6635]

Very interesting video. I want to put something up for debate. At the beginning, you listed a few publicly funded art pieces. You contrasted art projects that people would normally give support to and then some "controversial" art that would make us question public support. I think the difference between those examples was not the controversy of the art piece. The crucifix submerged in urine is something that would fit in a museum for elitists while the other programs are definitely community oriented. I think your racial and gender analysis is correct as public funding encourages minority artists, but do those artist actually serve the interest of people? It seems to be that a class analysis is necessary. Are those effects of artistic education coming from community art lessons or does it come from funding artists who do art for the rich? The tax burden for supporting art needs to be put in perspective with who consumes that art. I would definitely support publicly funded art lessons, heritage art for indigenous people and things that the tax payer actually consumes. However my support waivers when the bottom is funding art pieces in museums where the rich go.

[@yvessioui2716]

Some thoughts. What are we fighting for? It is approximately stated in most Star Trek : Actualization of everydoby's potential. I often use the following example. Previously in history, a lot most artists were street performers or fair's performers. It was to the benefit of all and anybody was able to contribute to sustain any artist they want, with an apple, a sesterce... That disappear in most part when power and/or money became the next god for most. Now we say to absolve us : if your are good you'll get some fame and then more money and so you will be able to live of your art. There is a flaw in this, the money question that goes to a few in a system that reflects the god-money and the god-power. I advocate art available to all as a normal thing to do. So, as soon as we want to perpetuate the god-money system for other parts of your society we have no choice than sustain all arts and artists, and predominantly the beginners, by public money since that actual system is what put artists in the slum.

[@MrTomcun]

I don´t know! Do not ask ME!

[@theartassignment]

But I was counting on you!

[@MCAndyT]

10:09 Is that an Ugo Rondinone, or Scott Hocking's new work @ Wasserman Projects? jk!

[@Catrionao]

i suppose when you look at the art that was privately funded in the past it was (at least in some places) very biased towards the religion of the city/country etc. we need art to be representational of a broader outlook

[@philibertlehardi8054]

Do you know what the problem is with the art passport in France ? I've never heard of it ! Like never, and I'm sure it's the same for most people except rich and educated kids who will be the only ones to benefit from it because they have the exclusivity of the information

[@ludwinvart5409]

From what I heard from Dr. Francisco Soriano the Mexican system has many flaws, most of the scholarships and grants are given to people who have a friend in government

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Would you support a cabinet-level Secretary Of Culture?

[@joshuahext9236]

Yes.

[@joyg2526]

YES.

[@deviousxen]

important

[@sylvestregagnon5681]

I guess you could make the case that art funding by government is not à lot of money. But i think it above the subject. Government funding of the art means artist have to please the government for money not the public. Naive people Will say great then artist Will make better art, non commercial type of art. But if this to be very naive. As in any other government funding money Will be given often to people not based on merit but often based on political affiliation, favoritism, because the artist is friends with some politicians and so on. An artist who is pro Trump and want à border wall, évén if hé is the greatest, is not likely to get any money. Or an artist who would say contreversial stuff about colonisation or anythings that is race related. Évén if what hé said is completly true. Most artist today say pretty much the same thing. They are in this cultural marxism atmosphère and most of them parrot this kind of thought. They have this idéa that are for the poor and diversity but live in all white neighboor and are desperate to be invite to some fancy cocktail événing with celebrities away from the populous and Trump voters.

[@fabiansolis5313]

What the app name for culture pass , just culture pass?

[@nunyabiznez6381]

Despite my comment below, it has been my observation that in recent years arts education in public schools has been virtually eliminated. The high school that I graduated from no longer has an art department. They no longer teach shop, home economics, music and a score of other subjects that are not directly related to achieving high test scores in math, reading and writing. Those are three critical subjects but they are not the only subjects worth learning. Every child should be exposed to visual, dramatic and other performance art and music yet it is virtually gone from all public school systems. When I was in high school there were 7 periods times five days and you could take as many as ten subjects in a given year but today that same high school has three periods. One for "Math for achievement tests" the second one for "English for achievement tests" and the third for "Reading for Achievement Tests." Each period is about two hours long. That is my old high school. Where I now live its basically the same thing and in the high school where my sister teaches it is likewise only three courses taught to each grade. Those are three high schools in three different states and I'm assuming it's that way everywhere now. How sad. From what crop of young high school graduates are art schools picking their new students? They don't accept you without a portfolio of work and you don't get that without art training.

[@steepertree]

Government funding should not be confused with government sanction - freedom of speech and freedom of expression are values we attest to, but don't always practice. An NEA grant that ends up supporting a controversial work of art is a way to emphasize these freedoms.

[@theartassignment]

Another video entirely! I rec the Origins video we mention, which gets to this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIqsi3l5fqqMjNU

[@michaelsommers2356]

So you would have no problem with the NEA funding, say, neo-Nazi art?

[@steepertree]

@@michaelsommers2356 I have nothing but problems with neo-Nazis.

[@michaelsommers2356]

@@steepertree So government funding of neo-Nazi art is not "a way to emphasize these freedoms."?

[@steepertree]

@@michaelsommers2356 There are limits to everything, even freedom.

[@zuzagal13]

Hey, Sarah, there's an illustration in your background (at the left: the reddy men in suits) could you give me credits? :D

[@theartassignment]

Sure! It's a reproduction of Martha Rosler's “Invasion” (2008)

[@zuzagal13]

@@theartassignment thank you very much!

[@lensman67]

Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were also major patrons of the "arts." Just because the public is forced to pay for "art" does not make it good. Who chooses the art is a very important part of our relationship with that art. Those who give out the grants are quite openly telling us "You are just a dumb rube, my vision is more important than yours."

[@kalinsbradata]

i would like to see you performing some kind of art

[@bedet]

Great video! I think artists should get should get some kind of subsistence funding. Honestly, the whole "starving artist" thing is a perfect example of why we need some kind of a guaranteed basic income. Not all important work has a market value, and art is just one example of this.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

...Why can't they get a regular job and do their art on the side? Why is someone's lack of artistic success MY problem?

[@donovanmedieval]

Since NEA and NEH were founded, the USA's entertainment industry has remained the largest in the world, while most other industries have lost their dominance in the world.

[@dimastrakovsky4975]

population of US => 327.2 million NEA+NEH budget = approx. 310 million So we spend less than $1 per person per year on the Arts and Humanities. Every single time someone gives me "my tax dollars at work" argument and shakes their head, I am like "do the arithmetic" and shake mine right back.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Money is money. I am PRO-arts funding but that it is relatively inexpensive is not an argument-or at least it can't be your sole argument.

[@lensman67]

I don't care if it is a penny it is wrong. Only one voice is represented--that of the cultural elite. The NEA doesn't cost money--it costs votes. It gives conservatives a weapon to distract people from what is important by dragging them into culture wars that would not exist without the NEA.

[@_nx..kromer.6085]

That would all depend on the art. I didn't really like a certain balloon animal dog so with Italian model wife. Or shit or pee or even real blood in art.

[@_nx..kromer.6085]

.No.

[@karid9041]

Rich people better watch out. Sarah's coming for them. Get it, girl.

[@GreenGestalt]

Beats another tax break to the Koch bros.

[@duckpondwithoutducks]

I'm not quite sure yet where I stand on the title question. If somebody were to ask do I think that the government should give painters and sculptors salaries, I would probably say no. But when I hear about the app where young people get credits to experience cultural events, I think, that seems good. And do I think that education should include arts and music, I would say, absolutely!

[@xingmei818]

Modest to France. Sounds right

[@a_e_hilton]

Watching this in the wake of Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison taking away the entire arts department, adding it to the 'services' department instead... along with transport and main roads.

[@nathanracher2911]

No. The arts should be entirely private or, at the very most, be funded by the States. This belief is that if indigenous Americans don't have access, then their culture will somehow go away. Never mind that Native culture has endured and will continue. And this notion is that if public funding weren't available, the color purple or Hamilton wouldn't exist. Ignoring that New York is the second-largest art market and Lin Manuel Miranda was a rising star actor on Broadway and a highly respected Broadway lyricist at the time, he wrote Hamilton. It would've been difficult for Alice walker to write the book. But ultimately, it is such an ad hoc post hoc argument that it should be ridiculed. The same thing should be said about how public funding is the only reason black people have some form of culture. It is insulting, to say the least. Blues, Jazz, rap, and hip-hop. Graffiti art, poetry, literature, and many other great works of art and artists that have come out of the black community without help from the NEA are, in some ways, in my opinion, vastly superior to those who've risen to prominence with NEA assistance. While we've seen a rise in foreign films, which isn't bad. But honestly, the vast majority of them are so fucking dull that if I were to ask the average American citizen what's their favorite French film. The OVERWHELMING majority of them would give me a Ummm. Hell, one can argue that Hamilton isn't that great of a musical, to begin with. But I can go to Germany and get multiple responses about what is there favorite American film.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

4:30 "art has always been a way for rulers to establish legitimacy and display power" is all you need to know to reject public funding of the arts. Legitimacy should be derived from the ballot, not state paid propaganda. Power is a burden, not a privilege to be flaunting"

[@randallpage8402]

While the concept of public funding for the arts is good, the results are often a poor investment of funds. Publicly funded art is often not very good art. I live in a city where there are many poorly conceived and executed sculptures on the downtown streets.

[@moirasoma2863]

Yes. Yes, it should.

[@indecay8756]

yeah, give me money please

[@TheCh1212]

If you must force others to pay for virtue, then you do not have true virtue.

[@pendlera2959]

If only the market determines what counts as true virtue, true virtue is not a thing worth pursuing or protecting.

[@genderfluids6448]

@@pendlera2959 This market is democracy. Ironically most of you lefties love it but have no qualms forcing people to relenquish their hard earned labor to a parasite. Hmm isn't this remniscent of the 1% capitalist class?

[@joedav67]

@@genderfluids6448I'd hardly call the rich hard working. Especially when they get massive tax breaks or just don't pay taxes yet still get refunds. You know us actually hard working Americans pay for those refunds right?