Testimony of Robert Bettmann at the 2010 Oversight Hearing for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
March 04, 2010
Testimony of Robert Bettmann
to the Committee on Economic Development
Oversight Hearing – DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
February 26, 2010
Good morning Committee Chairman Brown, members of the Committee on Economic Development and members of the council staff. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today.
My name is Robert Bettmann. I am the artistic and executive director of the dc arts non-profit Day Eight. Day Eight manages two programs: the arts magazine Bourgeon, and the dance company Bettmann Dances. In addition to my personal understanding of arts policy issues, I am the Chair of the DC Advocates for the Arts. In that capacity I enjoy working with arts leaders and policy-makers toward efficient arts policies. My testimony will be focused on two key points: (1) Money invested in the arts supports local tax revenue, and (2) Money invested in the arts supports communities.
(Point 1) The District budget is really tight right now. Why should the District spend money on the arts?
Most of the money that the District spends - once it’s spent, it’s just gone. But money invested in arts businesses returns to the city as tax revenue, and benefits residents through jobs and services.
In 2005 the city invested just over 10 million in the local arts community. According the Arts and Economic Prosperity III study, in 2005 Arts and Culture organizations in the District paid $335 million dollars in wages to residents and $62 million dollars in direct taxes.
Government investment in the arts is returned many times over in tax revenue.
Additionally, when people attend the theater, or got to a museum, they eat at restaurants, and stay in hotels, etc. Jobs in the arts and culture sector support additional city revenue.
Government support for the arts creates jobs, and tax revenue for the city.
(Point 2) Government support for the arts is supportive of our communities. While each city resident is unique, artists grow from, and represent, communities. The only form of support for community artists is through the granting programs serving individual artists through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
There are lots of arts service organizations which might provide opportunities for artists to participate in programs – usually for a fee – but in terms of artists in communities being able to help themselves, and make their own work, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is the most important resource for city residents in every ward of the city.
As you measure the performance of the District’s arts agency, you should consider how important it is for arts businesses and artists that the money in the agency budget is re-granted to arts businesses, and artists in the community.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify before your committee today. I am prepared to answer any questions you may have, and direct you for additional resource information to the website of the DC Advocates for the Arts.
Robert Bettmann
Artistic and Executive Director, Day Eight
Board Chair, DC Advocates for the Arts
