Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL DOWELL
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The budget proposed by Gov. George Allen eliminates funding for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and reduces funding by 50 percent for museums and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
While all these agencies contribute to the stability of the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley [located in downtown Pulaski], the center is most closely tied to the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Its grants generate a sizable portion of the center's budget.
State funding for the Commission for the Arts has been cut by 60 percent since 1990. The proposed cut would mean a total reduction of 77 percent in state funding for the arts, far beyond the spending reductions to other state agencies.
Since 1990, Virginia has dropped from 27th to 49th among the states in per capita support of the arts, with only Texas spending less. Among the 56 states and territories, Virginia ranks 55th. We are at the bottom.
These budget reductions come at a time when the Governor's Task Force on Tourism has recommended that tourism be expanded by advertising and emphasizing Virginia's museums and historical sites, which according to the Virginia Department of Tourism bring 88 percent of the tourists to our state. Thus, Virginia will be cutting that which it is promoting. Imagine coming from Idaho to visit the first state museum in the country and finding a sign saying "Closed weekends."
While arts organizations depend on subsidized funding for their existence, they have a remarkable economic impact on the community. For each dollar spent, anywhere from three to 10 dollars are generated in the community. A 1993 economic impact study showed that in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia alone cultural organizations had a combined impact of $274.9 million.
Planned budget cuts for museums and arts organizations will net the state $7 million out of a total budget of $32.5 billion, or .02 percent - a small overall savings for the state, but a huge loss to those of us in the arts.
Here in the New River Valley, DiscoveryWorks has gone into hibernation, the Blacksburg Regional Art Association and Creative Arts, Inc. continue their years-long desire to build a center, and the New River Arts Council has lost its jewel, ArtBeat Magazine, while it continues to devise funding to purchase the Christiansburg Furniture Market building.
The Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley has seen its programming dramatically curtailed.
The arts are struggling in the valley and financial resources are at the heart of the struggle.
State assistance for arts organizations makes up only a small portion of their budgets. More importantly, those subsidies offer a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval that helps us seek other grants and contributions.
The time is now for citizens of the New River Valley to stand up in support of the arts.
Contact our representatives in Richmond and let them know that we support state funding for that arts.
Now is also the time for the valley's arts organizations to come together. Arts funding sources are drying up. To maintain our existence, we must demonstrate a unified sense of purpose.
Michael Dowell is executive director of the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley in Pulaski.
by CNB