Republicans want to eliminate the NEA.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 9:15am

Maybe this is OT, but I thought it was worthwhile to know about:

http://tinyurl.com/4shar7j

Those asshats have gone too far now. It's not like there's THAT much money in there anyways!

[newintown]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 9:30am

It's not like it effectively supports art anymore. But at least it's a symbol, I suppose.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 9:34am

PBS would also be on the chopping block. And yes, Newintown, the NEA serves functions other than as a symbol. It's vital, in fact.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 9:41am

If the GOP budget is enacted, say goodbye to: Live From Lincoln Center, Great Performances, Masterpiece Theater, etc.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 9:45am

The NEA deserves to be eliminated. In the past, it has been too controversial.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 10:40am

ABSOLUTELY! Because if there is anything that makes great art great it's mediocrity and an unwillingness to make waves.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 11:18am

And I'm sure you find it perfectly fine when the NEA Communications Director asks artists to specifically create works of art that support the agenda of Obama. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, you'll get grants if you produce works of art that favorably portray national healthcare.

[whatever2]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 11:28am

A great nation deserves great art ... *this* nation deserves "Dancing with the Stars."

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 12:12pm

Is that something that's actually being alleged on Fox?

[Jon]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 12:25pm

How to eliminate the NEA without cutting federal funding of the arts:

Simply take all the money the NEA gives out in grants, and divide it up to the states - the amount based on population (in other words, divide the total money by 435 and give it out based on how many congressional districts each state has). Then let the state art councils (I'm prety sure every state has one) decide who gets the money.

This way you eliminate the adminstrative costs of the NEA office in D.C., and you won't have the bible-thumping conserveatives from the South complaining about the federal government funding "obscene" art in new York.

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 2:21pm

Oh no, Goth! It's controversial!

The horror!

The horror!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 2:50pm

Damn, Goth. You are pushin' the rectionary freakshow factor up to eleven lately. "Too controversial" is pretty nutty even for you. A big fan of Jesse Helms, are we?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 2:54pm

Very odd but very true.

[Colle]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 3:33pm

Even though I love theater and the arts, I would be fine with seeing the NEA go. There are more important things for the government and tax payers to fund, like the military. Theater/arts seems so frivous compared to those things. It probalby would be best if the arts were privately funded.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 4:02pm

HAHAHAHAHA...

Oh wait, Colle, are you being serious? How about we get out of the two dead-end wars, one of which we had no business starting, and then we can fund the NEA!

Arts and theatre are NOT frivolous.

[sowren1020]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 11:14pm

Colle, The budget for the Military for our country is necessary but what is also immediately necessary is that our economy get kick started. In many areas, arts organizations provide the only tourist revenue for local jobs, not just Broadway fare. Summer revenue in the Northeast is dependent on Williamstown, Tanglewood, Barrington Stage, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Stockbridge Theatre and any number of the arts programs that bring in tourists and money. It's show business and in many parts of our country right now, the only business that has not been out sourced. The NEA is start up money for the commerce of show business, it's not a luxury line item. The taxes I pay should provide not only for the military and the corporate seed money for banks but for the businesses of theatre. Theatre employs hundreds for the enlightenment and enjoyment of thousands.

[musikman]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 11:28pm

This might be hyperbole, but to agree with eliminating the NEA as a poster on a theater website is like promoting deforestation policies on the World Wildlife Fund website.

[jovie27]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 11:48pm

well this for sure is no W.P.A.!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/26/11 at 9:36am

I think one of the biggest failures of the NEA is that they should have taken up the task of creating a National Theater. The only real purpose of the NEA is to funnel taxpayer money to artists like the woman who smeared menstrual blood on her herself.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/26/11 at 10:16am

Goth, you are desperately pulling out material from 20 years ago. Nice try, though. Say a prayer for Mr. Helms for me.

[sowren1020]

Posted: 1/26/11 at 1:31pm

The categories available this year are down, with American Masterpieces being elimated completely. So we know what we are talking about, here are the actual categories for the NEA from last year and for this year:

2011
Access to Artistic Excellence I
Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects
NEA Mayors' Institute on City Design 25th Anniversary Initiative
Literature Fellowships: Creative Writing (Poetry)
Challenge America Fast-Track Grants

2010
Access to Artistic Excellence I
Access to Artistic Excellence II
American Masterpieces: Dance, Music, Musems, Presenting
Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects
Arts on Radio and Television
Challenge America Fast-Track Grants
Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth
Literature Fellowships: Creative Writing (Prose)
Partnerships (State and Regional)

[KylieS]

Posted: 1/26/11 at 2:28pm

Gotham: I like that artist.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 1/26/11 at 3:00pm

I think arts funding in this country is something of a joke, especially compared to other countries. I'd hate to see the NEA go because it's something as opposed to nothing, but their funding is so minimal would it really effect the arts world that much? Perhaps it would. I am not an expert.

But as a symbolic gesture I hate giving validation to the notion that arts and culture are frivolous.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/26/11 at 6:45pm

The government needs to fund the arts it's that simple. Art fosters creativity, imagination, innovation and critical thinking. It promotes the intellectual health of society and can also contribute to the economy. The simple fact that someone doesn't like the art produced is irrelevant and quite frankly a nonsensical argument.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/26/11 at 8:50pm

I'd hate to see the NEA go because it's something as opposed to nothing, but their funding is so minimal would it really effect the arts world that much? Perhaps it would. I am not an expert.

Sure it would. I'll give you one example. An NEA grant funded much of the development and early work on a musical called Feelin' Electric.

Feelin' Electric eventually went on to become a Pulitzer Prize winning musical that we now know as next to normal.