THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997            TAG: 9702080014
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   23 lines

PUT FUNDING INTO ARTS

Have you ever seen a ballerina spit on someone?

Now that Hampton Roads is embroiled in the controversy of a professional sports franchise, has anyone noticed the emergence of the region (read regionalism) as a strong supporter of the arts? Wasn't our area the second leading revenue producer in the country for ``Phantom of the Opera''? And now we have the chance to do it again with the Waterfront International Arts Festival.

Instead of gambling on an unknown, imagine what our arts community could accomplish with $200 million? What's wrong with investing money in our proven interest in the arts?

Besides, which would you rather support, someone who teaches grace and beauty or someone who kicks photographers?

STEVEN R. HERRON

Norfolk, Feb. 4, 1997