Remember the Arts

Times are bad. Uncertainty and loss loom around every corner. And since none of us knows what’s really happening to our money, except the numbers keep becoming more dismal every time we open our retirement statements, most people are hunkering down until the economy evens out again.

Unfortunately, one of the first places to get hit with lowered donations and reduced tickets sales are the arts. That seems understandable—if it’s a choice between putting food on my or my neighbors’ table and going to the ballet, I choose food. But for those of us who are lucky enough to be able to afford our needs while also helping our neighbors some, continuing our support of the arts is also important. Anyone interested in reading this blog probably already understands the importance of art and music in our lives: It helps civilize humanity; it helps us explore our emotions and expand our understandings. And that’s in addition to teaching us logic, problem solving and a host of other very useful attributes. If artists or musicians or organizations are forced to succumb to an unfriendly economy to the point that they can’t produce or present their art, we all are poorer for it.

So while you’re hunkered down protecting your pennies, please make the effort to attend a musical event or go to a play or give a donation to an arts organization. When the economy finally recovers, it would be very sad if we raise our collective heads and breathe sighs of relief just to discover that members of our arts community have taken the ultimate economic hit.