Derwood

I would have no income if not for government funding for the arts. I think many don't realize that theatres, museums, etc. wouldn't exist without state and federal funding. the anti-NEA folks like to cite outliers like "Piss Christ" or whatever to support their side. I've seen criticism that their is $50 million in the stimulus bill for the NEA, when the truth is that a) many jobs would be lost without it, and b) it's a pitifully small amount of money to begin with.

I'm lucky to live in a city that supports it's theatre scene fairly well (though it's wrapped up in miles of red tape). The main theatre companies I work for have theatre spaces in a state owned building that also houses the offices for the state legislature. The theatres here seem to be doing okay through the recession, but I lived through the post 9/11 era in Chicago, which saw countless fantastic companies go under due to dried up funding. Ticket sales only cover about 30% of the costs to mount a show, so private donations, sponsorships and government funding are critical in keeping the doors open at theatres. I imagine that admission fees at museums don't cover much there either.