THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507200010
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
Regarding ``Rich and famous could fund the arts'' (letter, July 4): In 1994 the average amount of taxpayers' money that went to funding for the arts was a mere 64 cents per person, as opposed to $27 in Germany and $32 in France. The United States would do well to emulate these European counties that seem to have a clear understanding that art is truly a reflection of society.
The National Endowment for the Arts has given grants for children's choruses, preservation of churches and for several other organizations designed to inculcate a love of the arts and encourage the use of imagination and thought. Such programs can hardly be dubbed ``trivial''; they have become a vital part of communities across the nation.
Neither I nor my family has ``millions to squander,'' but I understand the importance of the arts in almost every facet of everyday life.
REBECCA WHITTEMORE
Norfolk, July 5, 1995 by CNB