Should the government fund arts?

[Hediacrana]

I wish the options in the poll took issues of poverty and inequality into consideration.

For instance, my city has some nice publicly funded art sculptures in otherwise underfunded neighborhoods. These make art available to people who are not likely to set foot in any of our museums (which mainly cater to tourists, unfortunately). Many of the artists themselves belong to underprivileged demographics as well. I really don't think this use of public money is a bad thing.

[Pope Joan]

I wish the options in the poll took issues of poverty and inequality into consideration.

For instance, my city has some nice publicly funded art sculptures in otherwise underfunded neighborhoods. These make art available to people who are not likely to set foot in any of our museums (which mainly cater to tourists, unfortunately). Many of the artists themselves belong to underprivileged demographics as well. I really don't think this use of public money is a bad thing.

Yes, the WPA did good things along those lines, and I can't see how that would hurt anyone.

But making rich artists richer at public expense is unsupportable.

[NeoOasis]

I want to say yes, but I'm not entirely sure why.

I do know government often funds artists to paint murals in public buildings or commission mounments. But government funding artists to just do art... I'm not sure I entirely support that idea. By that logic why shouldn't the government fund the humanities such as history or philiosophy?

I'm fairly certain that commissioning and funding artists to create art in public areas (this includes the outdoors) IS the definition of funding arts.

It gives artists a job and embellishes our public infrastructure.

Yes, seems we're on the same page here. But from the OP, I got an impression that any and all art would be funded by the government. I was thinking along the lines of an artist welfare to some extent. That I would disagree with. Selected works being specifically commissioned by the government I'm less opposed to... even if some of their choices seem questionable at best.