The coalition that swept the Democrats and Barack Obama into power consisted of a lot of different interests, demanding great change in the federal government. Thanks to the Culture Wars of the 1980s and 1990s, the more than 2 million people who identified themselves as artists on their tax forms are overwhelmingly Democratic. Yet the increases in the National Endowment for the Arts budget are small, and some federal arts programs are proposed for elimination under the next Obama budget.
Like education, health care, housing, and poverty relief, the arts are an integral part of the social matrix and need a major infusion of government support, especially after the brutal recession of the last two years. Join me in insisting on transformative change for the arts!
Here's a little poll for you. As Arts Advocacy Days approach (April 12-13), please vote! Thank you.