In a time of economic hardship, many rely on art as a form of creative thought and self-expression. The Senate voted 61 to 37 to pass President Obama’s economic stimulus plan. The plan included the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a bill that was passed by the Senate on Friday to honor Republican Senator Tom Coburn’s proposal to remove $50 million toward federal funding for “community parks, museums, theaters and arts center”. After reading the Amendment, I noticed that the Smithsonian Institute (among the few) was protected from the bill but the majority of the Arts community will be greatly affected.

Coburn’s Amendment No. 175 to the economic stimulus bill rejects the following:

“None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project, including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture, zero-gravity chairs, big screen televisions, beautification, rotating pastel lights, and dry heat saunas.”

Coburn’s Amendment is ludicrous! This is very disappointing news, especially for inner city communities across America where the best works of art are displayed to build neighborhoods and to stem youth away from crime and violence.

In response to the Senate’s vote on Monday, Robert L. Lynch from Americans for the Arts stated, “The United States Senate missed an opportunity today to provide much needed stimulus support to the nation’s creative workforce. By not including $50 million in recovery funds to assist nonprofit arts organizations from closing or laying-off more workers, the Senate has failed to respond to the very real economic crisis facing the nonprofit arts industry.

The biggest surprise occurred when the Senate passed an egregious amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) by a vote of 73 to 24 to specifically prevent any economic stimulus funds from being given to museums, theaters, and arts centers.

As the bill heads to conference, Congressional leaders and the White House need to recognize that the arts are a legitimate U.S. economic industry and must keep the arts recovery funds in the final version of the legislation. These funds will allow arts organizations—large and small—to play a vital role in reviving their local economy.”

A gallery located in Chicago is just as important as the museums located along the National Mall in DC.  This is only the beginning of federal bail outs to hit this country.

Source: Darren Fever, Andy Warhol

via Allicia, 10 February 2009 3:30pm | 2 |