ARTS NEED SUPPORT DURING HARD TIMES
Submitted by admin on February 23, 2009
“The truth is I must have a change of some sort, or die,” Abraham Lincoln said when criticized for attending opera while the Civil War raged.
The quote, cited during a National Public Radio report on the 16th president’s musical preferences, exemplifies the vital role the arts play to audiences across the human spectrum—from presidents agonizing within impenetrable shadow to children dancing on sunlit lawns. The arts reflect upon and interpret the human condition, illuminating as they entertain, challenging as they soothe, commiserating while inspiring. Without much fanfare for their contributions in this area, the arts provide a significant social safety valve in our lives. Read more.