Peggy Amsterdam’s editorial published in the Philadelphia Enquirer December 23rd, 2009, excerpted below, explains why it makes sense to include arts funding in federal and local stimulus/jobs programs. “Sens. John McCain and Tom Coburn recently criticized how some of the federal stimulus money has been spent. They took specific aim at several National Endowment for the Arts grants for arts employment across the country, highlighting two Philadelphia-based groups, Pig Iron Theatre Co. and Spiral Q Puppet Theater. The $25,000 grant for Spiral Q supported a portion of the salary of the organization’s production manager. The $25,000 grant for Pig Iron allowed it to retain the position of associate artistic director and to fund actors’ salaries for its world-premiere production of Welcome to Yuba City. Were the grants worth it? Well, Welcome to Yuba City played to sold-out crowds and received uniformly outstanding reviews. The Northern Liberties neighborhood, where the show took place, was bustling with activity, including collateral spending at restaurants by the thousands of people who attended. Meanwhile, Spiral Q’s grant supported a position responsible for teacher training, internships, neighborhood parades, and other educational programs. Tracy Broyles, Spiral Q’s executive director, said that without the grant, the theater would have had to lay off its production manager and reduce arts-education programming by 50 percent – at a time when there is increasing demand for educational resources from teachers, principals, and community groups serving children in low-income neighborhoods.” To see the whole piece, click here.

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