See...I told you poor pitiful artistes you would get your money from the poor pitiful taxpayers. I'm a lone voice...crying in the wilderness.

I'm still right.

So there's a bill to institute a tax dedicated to arts? Yeah, that'll pass.

There should be no government office with the word 'Culture" in it's title. Not in a free country. The people can handle it.

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This is "pennies" in the budget; In fact probably a set up to make him look good. And CL is first and on the forefront to praise. No surprises here.

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Do we need another seperate welfare program for artists? I am all for following your dreams to be an artist but better make sure you have a parent or 2 supporting you.

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Dave,

You came around to the eventuality that the city would hear reason for it's sound investment in one of it's most productive budget items. You have not been saying it all along.

I find it sad that you feel compelled to refute facts because they do not align with your ideology. You categorize arts funding by state and local governments as the lining up individuals and handing them money for nothing. When nothing could be further from the truth.

You seem reluctant to acknowledge that these are non-profit agencies, who aside from creating arts experiences- create jobs, tourism dollars, a tremendous positive economic impact on private industry, support for education while providing significant tax income to the government. All of which a person never has to step into a theatre, concert hall or museum to benefit from as a citizen.

Those of us who have made the choice to stay in state that ranks 49th in per capita arts funding are dedicated professionals striving for a better community.

Georgians pay less for more benefit, that is a fact. I know you will try to find some weak rebuttal as to how these pennies are a huge infringement to your rights, but to me it will just be sad.

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I never said it infringed on my rights, I just don't think it's a proper function of government to confiscate and redirect money this way. The morality of it aside, I have never seen it proven that public money for arts results in an increase in revenue to the government. It's not the sort of thing that can be proven, too many variables.

Don't be sad that someone disagrees with you. It would be a boring world, with drab art, I imagine, if everyone agreed on everything.

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Hm, wonder about the Parks funding?

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If you don't like the idea of government-funded art, then by all means, do not patronize theatres or museums or any other entities that engender artistic products that make this world a livelier place.

Pretty pathetic.

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*~>>CUT! THE CHECK<<~* on THE ART OF DISCRIMINATION

Who does the OCA (Office of Cultural Affairs) Budget Cut, NOT, Effect?

According to the City of Atlanta’s Office of Contract Compliance Mission statement, “the City of Atlanta has found that African American, Female, Hispanic, & Asian American owned businesses have suffered the effects of racial and gender discrimination in both public and private markets resulting in a disproportionate award of contract dollars to non-minority or non-female businesses.” http://www.atlantaga.gov/mayor/off_contrac…

RESEARCH: After reviewing the OCA Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Annual Report I realized that out of 225 public installations, 46 projects along the Beltline, 50 Artists employed at the Chastain Arts Center, 175 works exhibited at the Chastain Arts Gallery, $467,759 in grant funds to local artists & arts organizations from the Contracts For Arts Services, 40 arts works & 12 temporary projects of the Public Arts program, a very miniscule percentage represented Urban events, yet many Art Communities claim the guise of being diverse & cultural. http://ocaatlanta.com/sites/ocaatlanta.com…

HYPOTHESIS: There is an absence of Genuine support for Urban events at Community Arts Centers, as well as their insufficient ability to help monetize the Intangible Assets & Intellectual Properties of Community Artists.

EXPERIMENT: A faint presence of minority Artivists at the Budget Public Hearing on 05/12/2011 reinforced the Office of Contract Compliance’s findings & proved the Hypothesis that "Cuts" won’t effect those who rarely or never get a cut.

ANALYSIS: Therefor, in this course of events it has become necessary for one Art Community to address the biased services which have misled them to another, and to establish for their Collective, a separate and equal Cooperative Mission to which the Laws of Equality and of OpperTUNEty entitle them, a decent respect to the Rights, or rites, of Minority Art requires that we should expose the decoys which impel us to such Reform.

CONCLUSION: Having said that, let me say this is a natural reflex to the disproportionate award of finances to majority/ non-minority Community Arts Organizations in relation to their lack of support for true diversified & cultural events.

Respectfully,


Dan the "Mechanik"

themechanikshop@gmail.com

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"I have never seen it proven that public money for arts results in an increase in revenue to the government." -- then you haven't bothered looking, or Google doesn't work at your house.

I have yet to see an example of a city that made a substantial investment in the arts and culture didn't see it pay off with massive returns.

Charlotte invested in the Arts to lure fortune 500 companies and bank headquarters - totally paid off for them and they continue to grow faster than Atlanta as a result. Business relocates to places where there is something for their employees to do. Helps with retention.

Denver started thinking regionally about arts and culture funding first, and transportation issues they had never been able to solve regionally previously followed suit.

Chicago built the bean -- and revitalized an entirely written off portion of their city.

Good ole' Bernie built a fishtank in Atlanta, and almost singlehandedly transformed downtown Atlanta as a result.

Show me a city that was making a substantial/meaningful investment in the arts and then cut back the same way Atlanta/Georgia has because they didn't see the ROI. You can't. Hasn't happened.

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C Cat - I shouldn't go to the Dali exhibit because I have a philosophical dispute with how part of the museum budget is funded? Pretty pathetic.

Mechanik - another good reason not to do it. It isn't "fair."

A F - Show me your link and I'll show you mine. It's not the sort of thing where you can prove causality. And sometimes, it's the other way around. For instance, the arts followed banking to Charlotte.

You think the aquarium "almost singlehandedly transformed downtown Atlanta?" Really?

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