Arts Offer More than Just Entertainment

In the face of difficult economic realities, Gov. Tom Corbett recently described his administration’s 2012-13 fiscal plan as “both lean and demanding.” Hard times require public officials to make the most of every asset and to adopt policies that maximize the state’s recovery potential. The arts are a proven part of that mix. As a citizen member of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, I laud Gov. Corbett for recognizing this fact and recommending that funding for the PCA hold steady at about $9 million.

The arts are a recovery asset that supports jobs, stimulates commerce, generates tax revenues, revitalizes communities, prepares the citizens and workers of tomorrow and adds a wealth of intrinsic value. The state investment in arts grants represents only 0.0003 percent of the commonwealth’s overall budget — or less than 2 cents per week for each Pennsylvanian. However, this investment in the arts is support for a growth industry that provides 62,000 full-time equivalent jobs, produces nearly $2 billion in economic activity and generates tax revenue totaling $283 million.