File puptcrit/puptcrit.0802, message 147


Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:22:31 -0700
From: joe-AT-dunfee.com
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] hard times


>Without Congressional action, funds to National Public Radio will 
>be slashed in half, funds to the National Endowment for
>the Arts will be reduced to an amount that is lower than when Bush 
>took office 7 years ago, and there will be no money - zero - for arts
>education.

>Robert Rogers

Judging by the money I see spent on video games, there is plenty of
money available for arts education and for puppet shows.  All that needs
to be done, is to divert some of those funds from the people that
control it.

Of course, this isn't government controlled money, but money controlled
directly by the people.  If people are stupid, and the artists can't
successfully convince them to directly fund arts, I have doubts a
government controlled program will be the most efficient way to resolve
the problem.

There have been several complaints about those who control school arts
booking only wanting "educational" shows. Well, consider their shortage
of money a method of removing control of the bookings from them.

Even if the schools were, for some reason, forbidden territory, there
are other places for the arts to exist. My brother is in a small town in
GA.  There is a small community theater that is very well supported by
the community. In other situations, I've seen plenty of possible venues
for puppeteers that have little or no cost associated with them. Places
like churches, Jewish Community Centers, Public Community Centers, or
your own house. As a volunteer with Youth for Christ, we had weekly
meetings at private homes with 40 or more teens where we have sang and
often performed skits.

Some more examples;

An elementary school, where I lived in Miami, they would have Friday
nights where a high-school rock band would come in and do a show for the
older elementary kids to dance to.  The admission was $2, and the band
was given all of the money.  It was staffed by volunteers, including on
one occasion myself, who also provided the sound system for them.

Both here in PA and in Miami FL, many communities would have schools
designated as "Community Centers". The idea was to have classes
available to the community, staffed by paid individuals.  The pay was
dependent on how many signed up for the class and it wasn't a great
deal, but it was pay.

A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR THE ARTS!!!!  All you have to do
as artists is get that money from members of the public.  If you are not
good enough to get their money, then volunteer until you are good
enough.

President Bush's budget is not starving the arts, rather it is
LIBERATING THEM FROM GOVERNMENT CONTROL!  POWER TO THE PEOPLE.!

Joe Dunfee

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