If you remember, The Stranger endorsed Mike McGinn for many reasons, including the fact that he was the culture candidate. Let’s refresh:

Neither candidate had shown a deep interest in arts and culture prior to the election, but there’s no shame in that. As writer Jonathan Raban pointed out in an e-mail: “Given their lack of experience on more conventional mayoral issues, that’s probably a good thing. One wouldn’t want to see either of them ducking early out of city hall for a night at the opera, or whiling away a weekend over Anna Karenina.”

We don’t need an art critic for mayor. We need a mayor who understands two foundational facts: (1) Culture—music, theater, film, literature, art—is a constituency that generates billions of dollars in sales, tens of thousands of jobs, and over a billion dollars in tax revenue; and (2) culture is not an add-on—it is fundamental to the city’s intellectual, aesthetic, and financial health.

Arts funding isn’t a handout that disappears into a black hole of elitist erudition. It’s a practical investment with high returns. In 2005, Seattle’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs had a budget of $2.57 million—minus money for public art, which would bring the figure closer to $4 million—and local arts organizations, with the help of OACA, returned $12.3 million in local government revenue. That’s not counting state revenue or dollars that went to private businesses (lumber for sets, bar and restaurant revenue, hotel rooms for the people who came to see Der Ring, etc.). At worst, the city tripled its investment; at best, it quintupled it.

And that’s definitely not counting the ways in which Seattle’s reputation as a city of music, theater, literature, and visual art attracts expansive thinkers and innovative businesses that want to be where the action is.

Let’s repeat those numbers: $2.57 million went into OACA, $12.3 million came out in local government revenue alone.

Of course, dollars are a reductive and myopic way to talk about why a city with rich culture is better than one without. But in tough budget years—like this one—when reductive and myopic people make ridiculous arguments like “we don’t need more painters, we need more cops!” it’s helpful to remind them that arts funding is an investment that makes money.

According to Mary Langholz of the Washington State Arts Alliance, Mayor McGinn is mulling over some final decisions today about the city budget he will present to the city council in the fall:

If they add in one area, they have to cut in another; and I hear that this is going to be a tough budget year. We just want to make sure that those who work and live in the creative industry (or appreciate) share their stories regarding the good work, support and programming received from the Office of Arts & Culture.

Now might be a good time for the city’s cultural constituency to make a little noise at mike.mcginn@seattle.gov. Arts Alliance’s form letter about the issue is beneath the jump.

*To avoid any confusion: The Stranger reserves the right to relentlessly criticize OACA and any other arts institutions, government-funded or otherwise. Just because certain people act like idiots sometimes doesn’t mean we want them killed. (Usually.)

Dear Mayor McGinn,

Thank you for supporting arts and culture in Seattle. We urge you to keep our great cultural life strong in our downtown, neighborhoods, and communities. We know from your campaign that it is your desire to protect the Office of Arts & Culture. We also know that, due to the current budget realities, many offices will be sharing cuts to their budgets. However, the Office of Arts & Culture is partially funded from admission taxes and should not be required to take more than its fair share of cuts.

We know that you are in agreement that there is a point where it is counter-productive to cut its budget any further. Here in Seattle, the arts generate more than $330 million in economic activity annually.

Economic benefits: The Arts put people to work, attract tourism revenue, are a business magnet, give industries a competitive edge, enhance property values, and create a distinctive brand identity. Seattle is one of the nation’s top cultural capitals and we don’t want that moniker to slip away.

Civic benefits: The Arts contribute to community vitality, bring public spaces to life, foster civic participation and a strong democracy, are a communications asset, contribute to wellness and healthy aging, and foster community partnerships that ensure a collective efficacy.

We know you are currently faced with challenging budget decisions. We simply ask that you continue to support the Office of Arts & Culture budget and programs that leverage outside funds, strengthen our communities, and improve the quality of life in Seattle.

Sincerely,

Brend an Kiley has worked as a child actor in New Orleans, as a member of the junior press corps at the 1988 Republican National Convention, and, for one happy April, as a bootlegger’s assistant in Nicaragua....

8 replies on “Give a Shout for the City’s Arts Budget”

  3. You might want to email all the city council members, cause they’re about to gut the arts budget to pay for the vanity project known as the Billionaires’ Tunnel.

    And close down more library branches.

    But hey, let’s build stuff we can’t afford with imaginary dollars we don’t have!

  5. Dear gods, I wish this city had a film commission. Part of the reason we get so few films made here compared to Portland or Vancouver is because those cities have opted to support the arts financially.

    Email sent.

  6. As a musician, I’m all in favor of supporting the arts, but it’s good to have an answer for the folks who say “We need more cops, not more artists…” since it is a zero-sum game when it comes to budgeting.

  7. It sure would be nice if everyone who wrote a letter to McGinn took out their checkbook and wrote checks to their five favorite arts organizations. You know, to show that you actually care, as opposed to expecting to solve the problem with someone else’s money.

  8. @5:

    That’s not entirely true. There is a Seattle office of Film+Music, which along with the State Film Office and WA Film Works do a pretty decent job given the our constitutional restrictions on tax rebates, something neither British Columbia or Oregon have to worry about.

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