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Home > ATLarts > Archives > 2007 > November > 29 > Entry
More Money for the Arts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Local government spending on the arts reached an all-time high this year, an estimated $817 million, according to the advocacy group Americans for the Arts.
Atlanta, however, is not among the most generous cities in arts funding. Mayor Shirley Franklin has said she wants to change that, although she hasn’t set a deadline to implement her plan to distribute $10 million a year to arts organizations and artists. Currently, Atlanta grants about $600,000 a year (a portion of the hotel-motel tax) to artists and arts & culture nonprofits.
Most arts nonprofits don’t come close to covering their expenses with earned income (ticket sales, gift shop sales and the like.) Donations from private individuals and organizations and governments make up the difference.
The goal of Franklin’s plan is to make the arts available to more people, and help make Atlanta a “world-class” city, she says. She’s right about that. How can you have a truly great city without strong public support for the arts?
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By %FA
November 29, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
Mayor Franklin began by diverting many Millions from talented artists, cultural projects and worthy arts organizations to pay outrageous salaries and extensive benefits for MAACC. Mayor Franklin’s Arts Task Force promised Ten Million annually in their report to compete with other comparable cities in the region. The truth is that Mayor Franklin has not, does not and will not support Atlanta’s arts and cultural industry. She does not get it. Never has, never will.