Is the Lack of Funding for the Arts Discouraging Young Audiences to Appreciate and Study it?

By: Amelia Torry

Introduction

  Across the United States, performing arts such as music, art, and dance are typically not well–funded. In comparison to other industries, the performing arts are the least funded of the rest. Many questions may arise from this information: why does this happen, and is it fair? Are the performing arts becoming less respected than they were in previous years? More importantly, how will this affect young audiences who may have wanted to participate? 

Funding for the Arts

  Between the years 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020, economic support given to the arts declined by 8.6%, when previously, funding for the arts had increased by 9.3%. This decrease happened for multiple reasons, the most popular one being that people simply do not find the arts as important as they did before. While some have shared the notion that the arts are important for social impact, people argue that they see changes in social or racial justice and climate to have a greater impact. The other common reason relates to people not knowing exactly where their money is going. People argue that organizations for the arts are not transparent enough about where their donations are going, and they are concerned that they may be wasting their money.

  There is a noticeable difference in economic support towards the arts in comparison to other sectors such as the environment, human services, and public-society benefits. All three sectors saw a large amount in economic growth from 2018 to 2020, further highlighting the lack of financial support the arts receive. In fact, most of the funding for the arts comes from people paying for shows and museum tickets alone. Most centers and museums strive to make their services affordable; therefore, relying on ticket sales alone is not enough to keep the performing arts alive.

Participation in the Arts

Although the performing arts may not be funded as well as they should be, that does not take away from their importance. However, many people cannot recognize this, leading to a decline in appreciation of the arts. This is evident through a survey taken by the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, showing that attendance at music concerts, plays, and ballets in 2022 decreased by almost half of the number in 2017. Furthermore, only 53% of Americans created and/or performed art in 2022. These numbers are shockingly low and may be caused by a number of reasons, including budget cuts.

One main reason relates to digital consumption. Out of the adults who participated in performing arts in 2022, 75% of participation was through digital and electronic media. Accessibility from digital forms of the arts may be what is pushing people away from in-person performing arts, especially younger audiences. Many barriers exist between young people and the arts, including time constraints, lack of arts education, stereotypes that the arts are “old” or “boring,” and, of course, financial constraints. Financial constraints may stem from the audience themselves or the program providing the art, as a result of a tight budget and lack of sales or donations. Every problem ties back to America’s inability to properly fund the performing arts, and if this cycle continues, the amount and quality of the performing arts will start to decline.

Financial Importance

Finances for the arts have a huge impact on how the population perceives them. If the government publicly supports and funds the arts, people may start to view them as an integral part of society. The arts are very influential among young people through research completed by Americans for the Arts. This research concluded that young people who complete art programs are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, three times more likely to win an award for school attendance, and four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem. This research shows just how important the arts are for academic success and achievement. If more people are aware of these benefits, more people may want to fund the arts personally or urge the government to do so. 

While the government focuses on many sectors to fund, such as healthcare or the military, it is important that they branch out and focus on financing the performing arts to the best of their ability. Any effort put towards supporting the arts will benefit it slowly but surely. Art is important for both education and entertainment, and if people recognize this, America may see a new age where the arts are properly funded.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the arts are a fundamental part of every American’s life, whether they have participated in them directly or have simply viewed them. The arts have a profound effect on education, culture, and even health. Sufficiently funding the arts would make an enormous impact on both people’s feelings towards them and the country itself. Benefits from funding the arts would include creating jobs, new tools for therapy, and encouraging citizens to engage in civic discourse. Future generations deserve to be enriched by the arts in the same way that those who lived in the age of the Renaissance were, and they can be, with advocacy and effort from people around the world.

References

Interactive, Capacity. “The Decline in Arts Funding and How to Inspire a Metamorphosis.” Capacity Interactive, 25 Oct. 2021, capacityinteractive.com/blog/the-decline-in-arts-funding-and-how-to-inspire-a-meamorphosis/. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

Dwyer, Kate. “Who Pays for the Arts?” Esquire, 30 Sept. 2024, www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a62394281/who-pays-for-the-arts/.

“Why Government Should Invest in the Arts | Delaware Arts Alliance.” DELAWARE ARTS ALLIANCE, www.delawareartsalliance.org/government-funding-arts/.

Arts Participation Patterns in 2022 Highlights from the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/2022-SPPA-final.pdf

“Why Public Funding for the Arts Matters.” Americans for the Arts, 15 May 2019, www.americansforthearts.org/blog-feed/why-public-funding-for-the-arts-matters.