Every year, Oregon artists, institutions, and organizations receive millions of dollars in funding from regional, state and federal government-sponsored agencies. For example, this past fiscal year the Regional Arts and Culture Council gave out over two million dollars in grants and support. Not a lot of money, but maybe enough to get some artists and organizations through what will certainly be a difficult year.
But what are these artists and organizations giving back to the community and why do we continue to fund the arts when there are so many other places that money could go? With these questions in mind, Frank Reynolds asked people around downtown Portland about state funding for the arts and how culture factors into their lives in tough economic times.