International Art Treasures Web Magazine

December 2004  

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Government Funding

Is it a waste of the taxpayer's dollars for governments to fund art venues such as the Art Gallery of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum, both in Toronto?

Absolutely not!

Recession, depression, health funding and roads are just a few of the reasons that are used as to why the arts should not be funded by the taxpayer's wallet. There are so many groups that feed at the public purse why pay for projects that not all taxpayers can use?

It's a good question. The answer lies in the benefits that arts bring both to their municipalities and to the greater communities of which they are partners.

The City of Toronto is a mecca for tourism in Canada, one of many beautiful and cosmopolitan communities that bring in tourist dollars which benefit not only local businesses but both federal and provincial coffers with the taxes they pay.

There is another equally important reason to fund the arts and that is the education that they provide to students. How many of us remember visiting local museums or taking the trip to the 'big city' to see exciting exhibits and having the museum or art gallery provide guided tours to bring art, history and culture to a young audience. Art helps celebrate the differences between us as not something to fear but to admire. As adults benefited during their formative years through the education system so too do their children and grandchildren.

The benefits by far outweigh the costs to the taxpayers.