At a
meeting I attended earlier this year, the director of a rural arts
agency said, “I’m talking about social justice and my board chair’s
only concern is fixing enough of her ‘world famous’ crab
dip’!”
Stories regularly appear in local
newspapers in which arts executives bemoan the sluggish economy, the
impact of the war, the winter weather or another round of anticipated
local and state government funding cuts.
Meanwhile, many nonprofit arts
presenters watch their audiences grow older and smaller.
Those of us who raise money for
the arts face some unprecedented challenges that transcend those
experienced during the first Gulf War.
The current economic downturn and
Iraqi War may not be the problem.
Instead, they may be revealing
some fundamental flaws in the case we have been making to public and
private sector funders in recent years.
These arguments, which attach the
value of the arts to some greater social goal, include:
* The arts generate
substantial economic impacts.
* The arts help our kids achieve
academically.
* The arts revitalize declining
downtowns.
* The arts help heal the wounds of
discrimination.
Each argument is true, and each
has motivated donors to contribute.
But when times are tough and
future prospects appear bleak, funders choose to support primary
causes, not ancillary ones.
To maintain the arts’ share of
philanthropy during these difficult times, we must broaden our
definition of art beyond the prevalent stereotype of tuxedos and
cocktail parties, work hard to engage younger audiences from all
walks of life and reshape our case for support.
We must articulate to current and
potential supporters that the arts have intrinsic value.
At its core, supporting the arts
is no more about opening night receptions than it is about achieving
social justice.
Instead, it is about nurturing the
creative spirit, innovation and diversity of expression.
A thriving and inclusive arts
community is fundamental to a democratic, civil society, where merit
and determination determine an individual’s future
prospects.
A social order that values art --
creativity, innovation, and diversity of expression -- will prosper,
and that is worth supporting.