The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, January 16, 1995               TAG: 9501140047
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E6   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Column 
SOURCE: Larry Maddry 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:  100 lines

THANKS TO ALLEN, VIRGINIA HARDLY A STATE OF THE ARTS

WELCOME TO VIRGINIA - THE ENEMY OF THE ARTS.

There may never be such billboards at the state line, but they won't be necessary.

Once the state slips to 50th among the 50 states in funding for the arts - which seems a certainty if Gov. Allen's proposed state budget for 1995-96 is approved - the word will be out.

In 1990, Virginia's funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts was $5 million. That sum was slashed drastically during the administration of Gov. Wilder and is now $2.2 million. Gov. Allen wants to reduce the current level of spending by half.

Put aside for a moment the musical performances, plays, paintings, poetry and sculpture never to be seen by children in the state. Dismiss the pleasure and nourishment of the soul that the arts bring to senior citizens in small towns from the Eastern Shore to Big Stone Gap.

Forget the mantle of shame that falls upon the shoulders of a state - particularly one that is 15th in the U.S. in per capita income - when it gives the back of its hand to public-supported creativity.

In short, pretend, if you can, that the arts are not the noblest instruments for elevating the human spirit and raising us - both with beauty and insight - above the level of beasts.

Now put yourself in the shoes of Gov. Allen. His announced policy is to transform Virginia into a ``business friendly'' commonwealth. One which will bring more corporations within our borders to create new jobs and fatter wallets for all.

But will corporate executives want to locate their factories or headquarters to a state where the quality of life is wanting?

Not in the opinion of Andrew Fine, the Virginia Beach businessman and civic leader who was the founding president of Virginians For the Arts.

``It appears the governor wants to bomb the arts and other humane projects back to the Stone Age,'' Fine said.

Fine said he was ``appalled that our state, one of the wealthiest in the nation, is so little prepared to make commitments to quality of life issues of which the arts is one of several but probably the most important.''

He claimed it will be difficult for state economic development officers to entice corporations to locate in Virginia. He also suggested that artists will be reluctant to move to a state that offers such paltry public support for the arts.

``And the arts happen to be an extremely good investment,'' he said. ``I don't know of any other that provides a leverage of $8 to $9 in return for every dollar spent.''

Fine noted that cuts in the arts budget under Gov. Wilder were severe but were imposed during a recession. ``But here we have another governor who is creating prisons and a $75 tax reduction who is prepared to inflict more pain on the arts community for what I perceive to be no compelling reason.''

V.M. ``Barney'' Annas, the current chairman of Virginians for the Arts - a statewide organization advocating increased funding for the arts - was equally outspoken in opposition to the governor's proposed cuts.

``It doesn't square up with my feelings as a Republican,'' the former Second District GOP chairman said. He said the Republican leadership in Congress appears opposed to public funding of the arts and that Gov. Allen shares their view.

``That makes me extremely disappointed in the people who are running the state and country compared to who I thought they were before they got in power.''

Annas says the arts are good business. He cited an Old Dominion University study of two years ago that showed that Hampton Roads' arts and cultural organizations were paying $3.8 million a year in state income taxes and more than $2 million in local taxes. Yet they receive only 33 cents per capita in return from the state (based on current funding of $2.2 million.)

``The economic impact of the arts in Hampton Roads is more than $27 million a year,'' said Annas, a former stockbroker who now lives in Virginia Beach.

``The governor's proposed cuts are going to hurt the Virginia Opera and symphony, but smaller and peripheral organizations will be hurt most and some are going to drop out of sight,'' he predicted.

He said the places hardest hit will be smaller cities such as Danville, Lynchburg and Abbingdon, (home of the Barter Theater). ``The Barter Theater may have to go back to bartering,'' he said.

Annas believes too few Virginians are aware of the impact the arts have on the education of the state's children.

``The Virginia Opera Association brought opera to 250,000 children last year. I expect those numbers will have to be cut way back under the governor's proposal.''

Annas believes that if the legislature adopts the governor's proposals, the result will be a shriveling up of arts funding from the private sector as well. ``Folks are going to say if the public won't support you, why should I?'' he said.

The Virginia Council for the Arts will only receive about $900,000 under the Allen budget once administrative costs are subtracted, Annas said.

The VCA represents 125 cultural organizations and 120 art supporters across the state. Annas said State Sen. Clancey Holland of Virginia Beach will introduce a bill in the General Assembly soon that would raise current funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts to $3.2 million.

He said about 350 VCA members will visit Richmond on Arts Advocacy Day (Jan. 25) to meet with legislators and urge passage of the Holland bill and greater support for the arts in Virginia. by CNB