{"id":1667,"date":"2014-11-03T14:07:40","date_gmt":"2014-11-03T22:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/?p=1667"},"modified":"2014-11-10T06:38:23","modified_gmt":"2014-11-10T14:38:23","slug":"arts-policy-and-the-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/2014\/11\/arts-policy-and-the-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Arts, policy, and the election (updated)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"what's<\/a>Barry’s Blog has a post on the consequences of the election, anticipating Republican gains in the House and likely control of the Senate, calling the post ‘What Tomorrow’s Election Means for the Nonprofit Arts<\/a>.’ Good question! He writes:<\/p>\n

On the federal level, if the Democrats maintain control of the Senate, this election probably won’t mean much for us at all. \u00a0If, though, the Republicans capture the Senate, as is widely being predicted, then we are likely to once again face challenges to funding to the NEA and the NEH (and maybe PBS too), and quite possibly another round where proposed cuts are the best case scenario, and elimination may be on the table. \u00a0One hopes not, but reality suggests otherwise. \u00a0Gridlock may well be inevitable. \u00a0The threat of a presidential veto will come into play, and the President may well use his power of executive order to move his agenda. \u00a0That will bring cries of ‘foul’ from the Republicans and again we may have stalemated government.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He advises after the election, regardless of the outcome, that every arts advocate …<\/p>\n

Write a letter (ONE letter) congratulating the elected official on their victory (first time or re-election) stating that you (and \/ or your organization) reside in the elected official’s district, and then outline the value of the arts in your district, including some data and study references (nothing that has to be too complicated – two or three bullet points ought to suffice), include a story about some real, live person positively impacted by the arts in your area, and finish by urging the elected official to meet with you so you can share with them why the arts are essential to his \/ her constituents.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let me suggest a different take.<\/p>\n

Do elections matter for the arts in the US? Absolutely. The cultural world of creators and audiences is heavily influenced by public policy, and the Republicans and Democrats have markedly different positions on the key issues. But public funding for the arts, and the budgets of the NEA and of state arts agencies, are not the main policies that affect the arts. The Affordable Care Act has a much<\/em> larger impact on artists and the country they live and work in. Education policy, including Common Core and policies for evaluating school progress and teacher effectiveness, and unequal school budgets, has an extremely important effect on the long run health of culture in the US, far more than the budgets of granting agencies. And that’s just a beginning. I support sound and stable funding for federal and state arts agencies. But in this election, they are not the major issues facing the future of the arts.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: From the Times<\/em><\/a>, November 4 (really!):<\/p>\n

\n

Playwrights may deliver the essential ingredient for any theater production \u2014 the script \u2014 but they are often the only people on the artistic team who go unpaid during casting auditions and rehearsals for their shows, and they usually fend for themselves with health insurance<\/a>, too. But one major Off Broadway theater company is changing that, aiming to offer a model for compensation after years of national debate about ways to help often struggling playwrights.<\/p>\n

The company, Playwrights Horizons<\/a>, announced on Tuesday that it has started covering roughly 50 percent of the health care premiums for its writers during the season in which their works are produced.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hmm, in Canada, and in other countries, nonprofit theatre companies don’t have to dig up funds to help playwrights cover their health insurance…<\/p>\n

UPDATE (November 10): From Barry’s Blog<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

While I agree with Professor Rushton that the issues of health care, education and many others are critically important to the future of the arts, I disagree that the funding mechanism (let alone the existence) of the NEA is not equally important to our future. \u00a0I suppose what anyone thinks is important to our future depends on whom you are talking to, and what they do. \u00a0But in the big picture, any attack on the arts, like the attacks on the funding level, or even very existence of the Endowment, go towards marginalizing and diminishing the value of the arts in the public mindset. \u00a0And that marginalization or devaluation impacts everything that might be important to our future, including our success in education policy that frames the arts, and in health care for artists.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Great post, recommend reading the whole thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry’s Blog has a post on the consequences of the election, anticipating Republican gains in the House and likely control of the Senate, calling the post ‘What Tomorrow’s Election Means for the Nonprofit Arts.’ Good question! He writes: On the federal level, if the Democrats maintain control of the Senate, this election probably won’t mean […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1667","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-issues","8":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Voters.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3dIW5-qT","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1728,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/2014\/12\/health-policy-is-arts-policy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1667,"position":0},"title":"Health policy is arts policy","author":"Michael Rushton","date":"December 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A country that provides all residents, regardless of employment status, with health insurance, presents a vastly different environment for artists than one that does not. I wrote about this recently, in the context of the November election. Whether painters, writers, and actors can try to 'make it' in their calling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "issues"","block_context":{"text":"issues","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"authors welcome","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/bloor-health-clinic.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3736,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/2025\/02\/art-in-turbulent-times\/","url_meta":{"origin":1667,"position":1},"title":"Art in Turbulent Times","author":"Michael Rushton","date":"February 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently artsjournal.com shared a lengthy piece by composer and musician Jonathan Blumhofer, on the arts in times of political unrest. Although you will see I disagree with its message, it is a thoughtful and considered piece. After a discussion of the complex, to say the least, relationship between conductor Wilhelm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "issues"","block_context":{"text":"issues","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-6.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-6.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-6.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-6.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1966,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/2016\/02\/local-state-federal-public-funding-for-the-arts-in-the-u-s\/","url_meta":{"origin":1667,"position":2},"title":"Local, state, federal: public funding for the arts in the U.S.","author":"Michael Rushton","date":"February 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"At the Atlantic, Andy Horwitz asks 'Who should pay for the arts in America?' He is specifically asking about nonprofit arts, whose funding comes from paying customers, donors and other sponsors, and the public sector. He observes: The current state of the arts in this country is a microcosm of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "issues"","block_context":{"text":"issues","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"this land is your land","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/america_map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/america_map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/america_map.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2780,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/2022\/05\/book-diary-may-23-what-is-equity-in-the-arts-a-first-look\/","url_meta":{"origin":1667,"position":3},"title":"Book Diary – May 23 – What is Equity in the Arts? A First Look…","author":"Michael Rushton","date":"May 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"There are two ways to approach equity, which I'm going to define as a fair or just set of entitlements or outcomes among people, not necessarily equal, but fair. One way is to focus on people's disposable income: what are people able to buy for themselves? How they spend their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "issues"","block_context":{"text":"issues","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"some restrictions apply","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/food-stamp.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/food-stamp.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/food-stamp.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/food-stamp.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/food-stamp.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/food-stamp.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":696,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/2013\/04\/internet-sales-should-be-taxed\/","url_meta":{"origin":1667,"position":4},"title":"Internet sales should be taxed","author":"Michael Rushton","date":"April 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The Washington Post reports that the Senate is soon to vote on the issue of sales taxes on goods sold over the internet: The Senate is planning to vote on a bill as soon as Monday that would give states the authority to collect sales taxes on all Internet purchases,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "issues"","block_context":{"text":"issues","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"new shoes!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/package_from_zappos-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2141,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/2016\/11\/breaking-away\/","url_meta":{"origin":1667,"position":5},"title":"Breaking away","author":"Michael Rushton","date":"November 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Can you remember the movie Breaking Away? From 1979, and set at that time, in my current home town of Bloomington, Indiana. Four lads just out of high school, all lacking a sense of purpose. It's a terrific movie, highly recommended. This week Alex Usher (you should follow him on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "issues"","block_context":{"text":"issues","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"imagine their futures","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/breaking-away.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1667"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1701,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1667\/revisions\/1701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/worth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}