By Michael Bigley
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
Chair, Arts and Humanities Working Group
Michael Bigley, speaking about the importance of the Arts and Humanities at WG's 2009 Annual Meeting
Hit hard by the economic recession, the entire nonprofit community has suffered greatly in the past year. Understandably, most attention has been paid to the challenges in providing emergency services; many have tended to dismiss other needs as less worthy of support. The Arts and Humanities Working Group of Washington Grantmakers views some of those “other needs” — music, theater, dance, literature, visual arts and other cultural and humanities-based disciplines — as no less important to a healthy community. When it comes to competition with other essential services for funding, the arts and humanities must be viewed not as an “either/or,” but as an “and.”
The arts and humanities are key tools for building the kind of community in which we want to live and the kind of community where businesses want to be. They are proven engines for economic and community development, promoting healthy individuals and neighborhoods, and are powerful vehicles for educational achievement and youth development. And these practical, instrumental values of the arts and humanities are all in addition to their intrinsic, aesthetic value.
Just try to imagine our region without the Smithsonian, the 9:30 Club, or the Atlas Theater. What would our sense of history be like without the Lincoln Memorial or the Washington Monument? Indeed, what would our region be like without the musical, theatrical, and cultural opportunities that help us to better understand and deal with our world and one another? In addition to meeting needs for food, shelter, and medical care, people need opportunities to achieve a rich, expressive life. The economy is still a major factor in funding decisions, and many arts and humanities organizations face the threat of shutting their doors forever. And with their closure would come the deterioration of our community as a place for individuals, families, and businesses to thrive.
Over the next six months, the Arts and Humanities Working Group will publish a monthly post (under the same header as above) that aims to help educate the funding community about the value of this sector. As funding becomes more and more difficult to come by, we hope that you will join us in recognizing the essential value that the arts and humanities bring to our communities.
This is a part of a monthly series sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Working Group. Read past installments here.
Congratulations Michael. Well said, points so critical. On behalf of so many of us in the field, we so very much appreciate the investments, both financial and personal, of you and other grantmakers in our region — that go forth to sustain the vitality and survival of so many large and small institutions, groups, and individuals.
Well said Michael! I must agree that a lot of time and money is spent these days dealing with emergency service prepardness; which in all reality is most likely a good thing this day and age. However that should not be an excuse for letting the arts fall to the way side. Being involved in both sides (emergency medical servies and the arts) it has offered many challenges over the years. Even though I am involved heavily in the emergency servies aspect I agree that in order to fulfill a health community there needs to be a balence between money being spend for prepardness and money being spent for the arts. The arts are a very important part of a community and alot of times provides an outlet for kids and adults. Great article and I could not agree more! I wish you the best of luck with everything!