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Arts and Funding

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Arts funding: Should governments fund the arts http://www.economist.com/debate/overview/236 Overview:
Everyone understands the value that art brings to society. But, the question that is being addressed today is, should the government should fund the arts when there are more pressing issues that the tax dollars could be used to rectify. Some examples are “keeping the streets safe and the lights on”.

Pro Argument by Alan Davey: * Davey points out that it takes only .05% of overall government spending to “fuel the creative industries”. This is just a little under £380 million ($590 million). * Contribution of music and visual and performing arts to the British economy exceeds £4 billion in gross value added, and the creative industries overall contribute £36 billion. * No evidence to support the suggestion that public subsidy crowds out private donors. In fact, it is just the opposite. * Private investment in the arts fell following the cuts in public funding.

Con Argument by Pete Spence: * Impossible for state organizations to fairly choose which projects to fund. * Donors worry that private backing will cost their chosen cause its government subsidies. * Of all the capital distributed to the Arts Council England in 2011/12 to regularly funded organizations, 43% went to just ten institutions. This makes it hard for new entrants, who do not receive the same level of funding. * Different avenues for artists to find audiences to support their work. * Crowd funding services like Kickstarter match artists with those who are willing to pay. * Pledge systems guarantee that the projects that receive funding are widely spread. It also gives art lovers the opportunity to support an artist and his or hers work.

Moderators Closing Statement by Emily Bobrow:
After 13,000 votes and the tightest of margins it was determined

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