Should Arts Funding be a part of the Stimulus Package?

March 6, 2009

Jane Alexander comments on Jindal’s criticism of Congress apportioning $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the ARRA.

Please check out the link: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/03/04/alexander.arts/

Also, here is the arts-relevant excerpt from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

OTHER RELATED AGENCIES
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
FACILITIES CAPITAL
For an additional amount for ‘‘Facilities Capital’’, for repair
and revitalization of existing facilities, $25,000,000.

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION
For an additional amount for ‘‘Grants and Administration’’,
$50,000,000, to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects
and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector
threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during
the current economic downturn: Provided, That 40 percent of such
funds shall be distributed to State arts agencies and regional arts
organizations in a manner similar to the agency’s current practice
and 60 percent of such funds shall be for competitively selected
arts projects and activities according to sections 2 and 5(c) of
the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 951, 954(c)): Provided further, That matching require-
ments under section 5(e) of such Act shall be waived.