Arts and the Economy

Waiting for the Show (c) 2008 by Tina M. Harris


We were fortunate to be able to attend an Economic Forecast event at the Tower Theatre this week. The presentation was excellent, the speakers thoughtful and knowledgeable and the information valuable…and depressing. Apparently we’re in for a rough ride, rougher than any of us might have expected and certainly of a longer duration than any of us hoped.

But one of the messages specific to Central Oregon was that of the many things we have an overabundance of, art and culture was near the top of the list. And we heard that repeated twice. Really!? An overabundance of art and culture!? In Central Oregon!?

Needless to say, we don’t agree. We believe that there has NEVER been an overabundance of art and culture anywhere in our nation. Traditionally these critical components of life are marginalized, under-funded and undervalued. Just look at any cash-strapped school system budget and see where the red lines fall.


And that is the point. Art has never been valued to the extent that it becomes untouchable in a bad economy. This time will be no different, therefore we must face the fact that we artists are in trouble. The signs are unmistakable. We’ve lost the Cascade Festival of Music, we nearly lost CTC, the Mirror Pond Gallery is forced to repurpose itself or close down. Just as we are all on restaurant death watch , so should we be with our cultural institutions. We must not let it happen.
Now, more than ever, we must steel ourselves against the dying of our light. Art and culture is the true expression of our hopes and dreams, the honest reflection of our better selves. To lose our art will be to lose ourselves and surrender to the dark.

We wanted to share with you the following article by Penelope Burk. And urge you to do all you can to keep the lights on.


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Can the Arts Survive the Economic Crisis?
January 12th, 2009 by Penelope Burk

I’ve read many articles lately on arts funding during this severe economic downturn. Some are awfully pessimistic; others offer hope. But none have come straight at the issue that is at the heart of all fundraising success, and which is especially important for the survival of the arts in this crisis economy.

It’s case. Even in the best of times, arts organizations have a difficult time articulating a competitive case. The arts are passionate, personal, and intensely human, but the pitch for selling the arts is too often clinical and businesslike, measured as the role of arts organizations in furthering other local businesses like restaurants, dress shops, taxis and hairdressers. I don’t want to get bogged down on the issue of whether anyone actually gets their hair done before going to the theatre these days (or buys a dress, for that matter.) But, don’t the arts merit more than an evaluation of their worth based on the surrounding local enterprises they prop up? Can’t the arts exist for their own sake?

... READ THE REST OF PENELOPE BURK'S ARTICLE here

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