Posted on 04/02/2009 11:41:36 AM PDT by a fool in paradise
Musicians Josh Groban, Wynton Marsalis and Linda Ronstadt pressed Congress on Tuesday for more public funding for the arts to help sustain programs during the nation's economic slump.
Marsalis said it's critical for the nation to reevaluate its priorities during the financial crisis to ensure the best aspects of U.S. culture aren't lost to younger generations because of scarce funding. The acclaimed trumpet player said he learned key lessons about jazz when he was young by playing with some of the original members of Duke Ellington's band.
"Around the world, music links generations old and young," Marsalis told lawmakers. "For some reason in our country, we decided we were going to allow the younger generation to be separated.
"We have left our kids exposed to business interests," he said of divergent tastes in music and culture, "and after 30 or 40 years of that, we're shocked."
Marsalis testified before a House subcommittee Tuesday, along with Groban and Ronstadt. Supporters packed the hearing room wearing "Arts Jobs" pins...
Arts advocates fanned out across Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts to $200 million for fiscal year 2010. They said federal support for the arts has fallen off dramatically over the past 30 years, considering inflation and the nation's growth over that time.
Republicans slashed funding for the federal arts endowment in the mid-1990s to less than $100 million, and the annual allocation has yet to return to its high of $176 million in 1992.
This year, the federal stimulus package would add $50 million to the $155 million the agency is receiving from Congress. But supporters worry about how the NEA will fare in years when there's no infusion of stimulus dollars.
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Want a piece of that Obama trillion dollar toilet paper, eh?
Fine. Let’s enact a movie tax. And music CD tax.
And we will give all the proceeds to the arts.
And how much of their own $$$ goes to the cause from these very rich people?
Let’s have a car tax and give the money to Ford and Chevy. Even if you buy Chrysler or Hyundai... < /sarc >
You think people who make millions a year from their “art” would be able to start their own fund to patronize the arts rather than ripping me off to fund such grand artistic efforts as “Annie Sprinkle”, Madonna with elephant dung, and crucifix in urine, just to name a few.
It’s bad enough we get ripped-off to pay for the effete, anti-American snobbery of National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Let them fund the “arts”.
It’s always about spending other peoples money.
I’m doing a chapter for my next book, “Eight Events That Changed America,” and one is the arrival of the Beatles, how it revitalized rock, and how rock then helped bring down the Iron Curtain. (Obviously, RR the main actor, but there were a lot of components). Anyway, what is abundantly clear is that IF there had been government sponsorship of the arts, virtually NONE of the protest music or countercultural rock groups we celebrate today as “classics” would have existed, let alone made the important music they did.
“Considering the millions a number of these entertainers make, couldn’t they fund their own arts?”
Seems like they have a one way pocket. The money goes in, and doesn’t come out especially for funding.
Strange, Duke Ellington didn’t have a government handout, why does Mr Marsalis think the next generation requires one?
Better yet, cut taxes on everyone so parents and kids have more money to buy iPods, art supplies, museum passes, or theater tickets, if they so choose.
Damn Straight! These punks have more than enough money to fund themselves. Quit trying to screw the taxpayers!
Congress wants money for farts funding?! What?
marsalis? alot. i don’t agree with his request for federal funding, but give this man his due, he’s been working for over 20 years giving his own money and time as well as organizing fundraisers around the world and convincing others to donate their time and money to promote the arts.
i met him when i was in high school when he stopped at all the high schools to talk to the students while he was in town giving a concert. he didn’t get paid to come see us, he wasn’t even invited, he called (ok, probably his manager or some one like that mase the call) and asked permission to come talk to us.
marsalis is one that puts his money where his mouth is.
If the people cared enough, it would be economically viable on it’s own. If it needs funding, there’s not enough interest to make taxpayers pay for it.
For rewarding the politically correct class.
He is a good dude, who does what he preaches. Ronstadt, the pig, on the other hand, should just STFU.
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