THE ECONOMICS OF ART, by Thom Woodruff aka Spirit Thom
YOU GAUGE THE NECESSITY OF ART
via its positive economic effect on a community
You say that Festivals add to sales of alcohol
and hotel rooms fill when Conventions arrive
But our Convention Center loses money
and artists in this town starve for support.
Art is intrinsically valuable—not for economic beneficence
More for the healthy mindset that engenders creativity
which is itself intrinsically valuable. Carving the Golden Goose
into huge portions for established Arts Companies, and crumbs
for Community Arts Initiatives—is also intrinsically unfair.
They bribe you by saying "expanding the Convention Center"
will mean more money for Arts. NOT! Community Arts cannot afford
to use our Convention Center, and rents on art spaces rise daily.
We are dispossessed twice—with no income and no spaces to perform.
Anyone would think we are poets!
left to right: Thom Woodruff &
Elizabeth Barrett Browning