SHULGOLD: Politicians weigh in on the arts

By Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 24, 2008 at 3 p.m.

Text size

More Entertainment Columns & Blogs

Considering all the major election issues, it might seem trivial to ask candidates their views on arts support.

But it's worth remembering: the arts are important to millions of Americans. It's hard to find anyone who would argue that we'd be better off without music, theater, visual art, dance, literature.

Yet, the issue becomes complex when the discussion turns to the question of federal subsidies for artists and arts organizations - particularly when it concerns funding controversial works.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on arts funding? That's a tricky question, since the U.S. Senate no longer casts votes on allocations for the National Endowment for the Arts, the public agency that's the nation's largest annual funder of the arts. Since 2000, the issue has been voted on only in the House.

Regardless, while NEA votes reveal much about an elected official's views of arts funding, they don't tell us everything. From 1993-2000, Sen. John McCain voted nine times to reduce or eliminate the NEA, but should we imply he doesn't like the arts? By the same token: Were those voting "yes" voicing favor for works of art thought by some to be obscene?

A fair discussion of presidential and senatorial candidates' views on arts funding and arts education should include their words and their votes. So here's a look at the candidates.

Bob Schaffer

* Arts education: The Republican senatorial candidate has previously pointed to his years of service in public education. Although he couldn't be reached for comment, and his Web site does not address the issue, in an interview with the Pueblo Chieftain he described education as "the most important long-term issue confronting our country today."

* Arts funding: When he served in the House (1997-2003), Schaffer was critical of NEA funding. In 1998, he voted against the $98 million NEA allotment and on June 15, 2000, spoke on the floor of the House, favoring a reduced appropriation: "I find it unfortunate NEA funding is often misused to support endeavors not intended to uplift and enlighten, but to advance ideas that are clearly obscene, anti-family and sacrilegious. This is more than unfortunate. It is unacceptable."

Mark Udall

* Arts education: Schaffer's Democratic opponent responded to a question from the Rocky about arts education through spokesman Tara Trujillo. Udall, she said, believes that "the arts add to the education of our children, helping them tap into creativity and critical thinking that serves them well across their education and in the workplace."

* Arts funding: The Political Action Committee Americans for the Arts recently rated every member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 110th Congress (2007-08), assigning letter grades based on votes on selected arts-funding measures and requests (including two involving cutbacks proposed by U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado). Members of the Colorado delegation receiving the highest grades were Diana DeGette and Udall.

John McCain

* Arts education: McCain, R-Ariz., has said that "arts education can play a vital role fostering creativity and expression." He favors local school board decision-making with accountability "for providing a quality education in basic subjects."

* Arts funding: In addition to his nine "no" votes on NEA funding, he was in favor of the 1990 Helms Amendment, which sought to bar the use of NEA funds "to promote, distribute, disseminate, or produce materials that depict or describe sexual or excretory activities or organs." McCain voted for the 1999 Smith-Ashcroft Amendment, which sought to eliminate all funding for the NEA. His explanation: "I believe it is not proper to use tax dollars for what many Americans feel are the obscene and inappropriate projects this organization has supported."

Barack Obama

* Arts education: On his Web site, Obama, D-Ill., has introduced a multilayered plan to "reinvest in arts education," noting that "the arts should be a central part of effective teaching and learning." The platform includes an expansion of public/private partnerships between schools and arts organizations, including increased resources for the U.S. Department of Education's Arts Education Model Development and Dissemination Grants.

* Arts funding: According to his Web site's "Platform in Support of the Arts," Obama favors increased funding for the NEA, along with promoting cultural diplomacy and attracting foreign artistic talent to America.

NEA funding

Congressional appropriations by fiscal year, in millions:

* 1967: $2.9

* 1974: $64

* 1981: $158.8

* 1992: $176

* 1996: $99.5

* 2001: 104.8

* 2008: 144.7

Report card

In August, Americans for the Arts handed out numerical scores and a letter grade drawn from key floor votes and other factors, to gauge every U.S. representative's stance on arts funding. Here's how Colorado's delegation fared:

* Diana DeGette (D): 92 points; A

* Doug Lamborn (R): 0 points; F

* Marilyn Musgrave (R): 6 points; F

* Ed Perlmutter (D): 80 points; B+

* John Salazar (D): 80 points; B+

* Tom Tancredo (R): 0 points; F

* Mark Udall (D): 88 points; A

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News