‘Valuing culture’ can be an abstract exercise, full of theory and pontification about instrumental and intrinsic worth. But the topic is getting a real-world workout in Colorado, where Denver’s sales-tax-supported Scientific and Cultural Facilities District is coming up for renewal.
Does a public investment in culture return public benefits from the taxpayers’ perspective? In this case, the taxpayers themselves will decide through a public referendum to renew and extend the initiative.
The Rocky Mountain News has one perspective on the ‘returns on investment’ in terms of the public access to art, subsidized admission prices, and stability/growth of the arts organizations afforded by the $400 million already raised.
It will be interesting see whether the public sees the values as equal to the costs.
