The arts are a prosperity generator. In addition to their value to society, they offer a blend of benefits across other sectors. Yet, in times of economic pressures lawmakers may question why the arts should receive funds when so many other needs are pressing. If the arts are to survive the current financial crisis it is crucial that policymakers and the general population understand how the arts benefit government and citizens.

In order to encourage dialogue about this issue, The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in the US, realized a survey and has recently published its results in the form of an arts advocacy guide : “Why should Government support the arts?”.

Here there is a list summarizing the most important points and reasons for governments and lawmakers to support the arts :

As economic drivers, the arts:

• Help communities to prosper: The arts put people to work. They employ a skilled work force with creative occupations in a wide variety of other trades and professions: artists, managers, marketers, technicians, teachers, designers, carpenters and workers.

• Attract tourism revenue: Cultural tourism is a huge market. In average, cultural tourists stay longer and spend more at their destinations than other kinds of travelers.

• Are an effective rural development strategy: The arts help to address geographic isolation, infrastructure limitations and population flight.

• Work as a business magnet. The arts boost local economies. Organizations purchase goods and services and audiences spend money on admissions, transportation, food, accomodation and souvenirs.

  The arts are an asset for companies that attract employees and clients with a creative environment.

  Creative workers help businesses to innovate new product lines, effectively market their services and create distinctive brand identities.

  Product’s artistic qualities, uniqueness, performance and design are increasingly valued in the international marketplace.

• Prevail as a dynamic contributor to the small business sector. Small businesses and individual entrepreneurs are critical to every state’s economy.

As educational assets, the arts:

 

• Help to create a positive school environment both for learning and human development. Students who receive arts education have stronger social skills, improved motivation to learn and more esteem for themselves and their peers.

• Provide the critical thinking, communication and innovation skills necessary for 21st-century success. Arts education is a necessity in a global economy driven by knowledge and ideas

• Keep kids in school. Numerous studies have found that arts education programs help to reduce dropout rates, increasing the engagement of students.

• Help at-risk youth. Participation in arts programs decreases young people’s involvement in delinquent behavior and increases academic outcomes for disadvantaged children.

As civic catalysts, the arts:

• Bring public spaces to life. Artworks and arts activities make public spaces attractive and distinctive, engaging residents in the creation of welcoming and sustainable places to live and work.

• Foster civic participation and a strong democracy. The arts enhance our ability to illustrate viewpoints, to dramatize issues, to inspire action and to see things through the eyes of others.

• Build bridges among people. Facilitating intercultural understanding and providing a common lexicon for building relationships in an increasingly diverse and global society. The arts are a communications resource in a global society.

• Contribute to collective efficacy. Engaging citizens in civic discourse, magnifying important issues and encouraging collective problem solving.The arts strengthen interpersonal ties and empower residents, all of which nurture the collective efficacy of a community to address major problems, including poverty.
  

Public support for the arts serves the public interest :

• Government investment covers areas that the private sector does not, ensuring that all areas of a state receive the benefits of the arts. In contrast, in the marketplace or among individual philanthropists, many motivations (including personal goals and advertising exposure) drive funding decisions.

• Public arts agency grants emphasize grass-roots arts development, giving priority to education, community outreach, long-term planning and other activities . In addition, these often provide funding for individual artists—two important areas that few foundations or corporations routinely support .

• Government support provides fair access to arts resources. It reduces barriers to public participation in the arts, such as those linked to poverty, geographic isolation, limited education, lack of information, disability, age or ethnicity.

The role of artists, cultural organizations and arts agencies:

• Artists form the foundation of a creative environment. Many artists also work as educators, providing training in creative skills and passing on cultural value among generations.

   

• Arts organizations create opportunities for citizens to experience and learn about the arts. They also act as community hubs and catalysts for social cohesion, building a bridge between artists and communities and facilitating public access to artists and to artworks.

   

• Arts agencies offer grants, resources, information and training programs that help nonprofit arts organizations and artists (to develop their careers, market their products and facilitate the share of ideas with others).

Arts cutbacks can lead to large losses:

• Arts grantees use the “seal of approval” of public funding to attract support from other sources.

• The arts are central to community resilience. Arts help with educational and civic challenges aggravated during tough times: economic distress, natural disasters or other adversity. The arts are a powerful force for recovery and healing, a benefit that few other industries offer.

• Reducing modest expenditures won’t appreciably affect national budgets, but will damage the cultural sector’s ability to provide jobs, goods and services to communities.