Conservative Guy Hates Artists, Money

We’ve always thought that ~~right-wing allodoxaphobes~~ Republicans’ lust for cash trumped their disdain for ~~minorities~~ ~~the gay community~~ ~~women~~ ~~progressives~~ ~~the poor~~ ~~sick children~~ ~~cute little puppies~~ those of us with souls, and the organizations/events that appeal to or involve said demographic. As it turns out, we were wrong.

Last week we brought you breaking news that Howard Wolf, citizen advisor of the Sunset Advisory Commission (the body that periodically reviews Texas state agencies) recommended dissolving the Texas Commission for the Arts – thus ending a significant source of funding for countless Central Texas arts and cultural organizations.

Maybe Howard should start thinking with his pocketbook instead of his ass. According to the Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office, Austin’s cultural sector “contributes over $2.2 billion to the local economy annually and represents nearly 44,000 jobs.” B-I-L-L-I-O-N. Moreover, TXP, Inc – the local economic analysis and public policy consulting firm that completed this study – believes that these findings are just “scratching the surface” of the cultural sector’s full economic impact on our community.

According the TXP study:

…the incredible diversity of the local arts scene undoubtedly serves to both attract and retain talented people. This in turn has a significant impact on business recruitment, retention, and expansion, as well as local entrepreneurship. As such, the overall role of the cultural sector in the economy is disproportionately large to its narrowly defined impact. Communities with vision see the arts and related sectors with this “wide-angle” lens; those that take a narrower view may do so at their peril.

The good news is that, also according to the TXP study, nearly 88% of Central Texans (even 77% of “political conservatives”) are in favor of supporting the arts. The bad news is that we only have until April 7th to express our support to the Sunset Advisory Commission. Act now, and tell them you’re behind the Texas Commission for the Arts and believe in the organizations it supports. Address letters to:

The Sunset Advisory Commission Staff
sunset@sunset.state.tx.us
P. O. Box 13066
Austin, TX 78711-3066

For more information on this report from TXP, Inc, contact Vincent Kitch, Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Austin.

Photo by Marcin Krawczyk at Stock Exchange

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By Jonathon Morgan in News on April 3, 2006 5:00 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Jose Mata

Howard Wolf may be a lovely Chairman of the Board of a military vehicle manufacturer (Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc., which has the reptilian URL of http://www.ssss.com/), but I'm reminded of a quote, "if i say 'I love you' and hit you with a two-by-four, which one are you going to believe?" This kind and thoughtful man wants to smack Texans as explained by Ricardo Hernandez's "Response to TCA Hearings" and linked to in the original post.

Jennifer Nawotka

First, let me say that Howard Wolf is an incredibly lovely individual. He is kind and thoughtful, and does not warrant the broad brush you painted him with. If you listen to his position as to why he recommends discontinuing the funding for the TCA, you would know that it has nothing to do with whether he supports the arts. He does. He feels, however, that the mission of the TCA is being hindered by virtue of its existence under the State umbrella, and that the purpose of the TCA can be better accomplished in the private sector. The TCA represents only a small percentage of the funding available for the arts, and the failure of the State to continue funding the TCA does not equate to an end of the cultural sector. Feel free to disagree with Howard, but don’t call him an ass or imply that he doesn’t have a soul.