Art, as the cultural philosophers of the 19th century clearly declared, is for art’s sake. And maybe that’s the case. But in practice it also has other objectives, some controversial, some practical. We live, for example, in an age that places a strong emphasis on statecraft (one of the main things that art for art the philosophers reacted).
And art and money are closely linked, from high-value art auction houses (a highly coveted Picasso comes sold at Sotheby’s for $139.4 millionin a total auction of $406.4 million) to the fundraising network that keeps nonprofit arts organizations, from theater and dance companies to museums and concert halls, alive.
Much of this money comes from government sources, and while part of the reasoning in policy circles is that a healthy arts scene is simply a good thing, much of it has to do with the desire for economic development, which is a great advantage. a strong and diverse arts scene: arts events help boost tourism, and people who go to shows, movies or museums spend money not only on tickets, but also on restaurants, bars , shops, parking lots and other things, helping to create lively town centers and city centers. lots of jobs.
Do you think, as does a wing of Congress that attempts every session to eliminate or reduce the budgets of the National Arts and Humanities Funds, that the arts are just superfluities that the government should not subsidize? ? View the arts, as other politicians do, as civic investments. Government funding in the United States lags far behind the levels of most European countries, and yet it has become an essential part of the country’s complex and fragile arts funding mechanism.
A recent study of the national arts advocacy group Americans for the Arts reports that the arts and culture industry (a word that advocates of art for art’s sake would have used only to refer to the work of artists and artisans in the pursuit of their art) has had an economic impact of $829 million in Oregon in fiscal year 2022.
Oregon’s share is just one part of a much larger national economic pie, the study reports: “In 2022, nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion of economic activity, or $73.3 billion in spending by organizations, which mobilized an additional $78.4 billion. in the event spending of their audiences. The impact of this economic activity is significant, supporting 2.6 million jobs, generating $29.1 billion in tax revenue, and providing $101 billion in personal income to residents. (The study) sends a strong signal: when we support the arts, we invest in economic and community well-being.
In other words: even if you’re not interested in the arts at all, they contribute to many jobs and a stronger overall economy that benefits you.
The Americans for the Arts study was comprehensive, examining data from 373 regions in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and covering cities and regions of almost every size, ranging from 4,000 to 4 million residents.
The study includes 21 regions in Oregon, including several in the greater Portland metro area and several on the coast to the Willamette Valley, southern Oregon, the Columbia River Gorge, central Oregon and Eastern Oregon. You can see everyone’s basic results on this interactive map. The city of Portland, for example, generated nearly $238 million in spending by arts and cultural organizations, and more than $167 million in spending by the arts public. Harney County, with a population of just over 7,500, generated approximately $346,000 in spending by organizations and more than $3.4 million by the public.
How do government agencies decide Or invest their money in the arts? Is it distributed to all neighborhoods in a city, for example, or concentrated on city centers and areas that a city wants to develop? Economic policy can prevail, or at least tip the scales, over aesthetic policy. Art can be for art’s sake. But that’s only part of the story.
Looking for a Poet Laureate
Meanwhile, Oregon is looking for a new bard — or, more accurately, a new poet laureate, the 11th statewide language advocate since the first poet laureate of State, Edwin Markham, held this position between 1923 and 1931.
The poet laureate carries the wonders of the spoken word to towns and hamlets in every corner of the state, spreading stories, encouraging a love of language and wandering Oregon much as the bard Homer wandered the Greece 2,800 years ago (although with better transportation).
“During a two-year term,” the Oregon Culural Trust recently announced, “the Oregon Poet Laureate promotes the art of poetry, encourages literacy and learning, addresses central issues related to the humanities and heritage and reflects on public life in Oregon. Applications for this position will be accepted until January 8, 2024. Poets may nominate themselves. The next Poet Laureate will begin their term in May 2024.”
Anis Mojgani, who has held this position since 2020, describes the task from his perspective: “A poet is a witness who imagines and, through his actions, gives us permission to do the same. For the times we live in, we need to have a powerful imagination, so having a position for Oregon to foster and rally that imagination is a beautiful significance and gift to our state.
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In a recent column, ArtsWatch music editor Matthew Neil Andrews had some thoughts on the subject. “In a perfect world,” he wrote, “current poet laureate Anis Mojgani should be forcibly dethroned via an old-fashioned basement poetry slam, but apparently the Oregon Cultural Trust has ideas more peaceful. »
Failing that – and Mojgani will have served two full terms – Andrews had other ideas: what about men of many talents? Dr. S. Renée Mitchell? Or one of the few musicians, Alicia Jo Rabins Or Laura Veirs? (And given that Bob Dylan is a Nobel Prize winner for literature, why not?)
Of course, you might have other ideas. Maybe you know the person and nominate them. You could be just the person and introduce yourself. You can submit applications until January 8, 2024 by completing the form application form here.
The Cultural Trust, which has funded the position since 2006 (the program is administered by Oregon Humanities), sets some ground rules:
“During his or her term, the Poet Laureate will participate in at least 10 public readings or other events per year in settings across the state, demonstrating the value and importance of poetry and creative expression to community leaders. businesses, communities and the State. The poet laureate receives an annual honorarium in addition to an annual travel allowance.
“Applicants must be current residents of Oregon and have lived in the state for at least 10 years. They must be publicly recognized as poets and appreciated for the excellence of their work; have a significant body of published or performed work; and accept the conditions and duration of the appointment.
After Markham’s first term, Oregon experienced a 20-year gap before Ben Hur Lampman became the state’s second poet laureate, from 1951 to 1954. After another hiatus, Ethel Romig Fuller served from 1957 in 1965. Ten years later, William Stafford became the fourth honoree, serving 15 years between 1975 and 1990. Sixteen years later, when the Oregon Cultural Trust took over funding, continuity finally took hold. Lawson Fusao Inada served 2006-10, Paulann Petersen 2010-14, Peter Sears 2014-16, Elizabeth Woody 2016-18, Kim Stafford (the son of William Stafford) 2018-20 and Mojgani since 2020.
