Does the Fayetteville Arts Festival generate enough revenue to justify the city coughing up money to fund it? I've heard the question ask but the answer has always been "we don't know". The city has had to give up a lot of things in the last budget that I think are more important than the Arts Festival. If the Festival was generating enough revenue to cover the city's donation, I'd have no problem with giving it money.The arts festival's ideal budget is $54,000, said Daniel Keeley, the director of Fayetteville Downtown Partners. So far, the group has attracted about $14,000 in in-kind donations and another $10,000 in private contributions. Another $15,000 puts the festival at $39,000.
Is there enough community support for the Festival? Ideally the Festival should be able to fund itself without asking the city for money. If the Festival Board of Directors are having trouble getting enough money, there may not be enough people interested in supporting an Arts Festival. Money is tight for everyone and I don't want to see the City of Fayetteville toss more money down another hole.
Stories here and here.
4 comments:
"Is there enough community support for the Festival? Ideally the Festival should be able to fund itself without asking the city for money. If the Festival Board of Directors are having trouble getting enough money, there may not be enough people interested in supporting an Arts Festival. Money is tight for everyone and I don't want to see the City of Fayetteville toss more money down another hole."
You make some good points here. Would you apply the same standards to our parks and withdraw city funding if not enough people are interested in paying to use them that they could support themselves?
The Arts Festival is composed of artists trying to sell their art. The Festival is a commercial venture, a business with profits and losses. The city parks are not business, although there are programs developed in Parks and Recreation that do turn a profit. If you ask people if it's OK for their taxes be used for parks I'd bet most would say, yes. If you asked if it's OK to use taxes to fund an artist's show, I'd bet most wouldn't be enthusiastic about it.
Fair enough. So the distinction is using tax dollars to support a business venture where the manufacturer seeks to make a profit? Does that mean that you oppose all business incentives that provide subsidies in the form of advertising, lower utility rates, municipal bond financing, TIF districts, tax exemptions, and industrial parks? Are companies selling widgets to be treated differently from artists selling paintings, or would you let them all try their hand in a free market without state support? Do you think most people would say it is OK to use taxes to fund a private business?
I don’t think government should get involved in business other than making sure taxes are low enough to encourage it and above all be careful about discouraging it. The problem with offering incentives is that government should be fair and offer it to every single business. Since Fayetteville has decided to finance the Arts Festival, then they should also have to finance the Porta Potty Festival. In any case, why should taxpayers pay for any business’ operating expenses?
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