Performing arts research

Question

why should the taxpayers' money be used to fund plays operas and ballets that few people ever go see?

Answer 1

I've smoked and drunk enough to have paid enough tax for national health pain relief when I am dying, and hope the 'state' doesn't prolong my life unnecessarily.

Theatre, Opera and Dance expand thought - which is a d**n good reason for 'taxpayer's money' to be used to fund them. That the money should partly be spent on ensuring that it is not 'few people' who see them is what has to be worked on.

Otherwise 'taxpayer's money' is being used to fund failing schemes for 'disenfranchised kids' which are much more expensive than putting on attractive, well publicised 'shows' with a (subsidised) low ticket price for people who would like to take their children for an exiting evening out, just for once.

This is never as easy as it might seem - when museum entrance fees were dropped the entrance numbers rose enormously, but it was mainly the same nursemaids in Kensington and Bloomsbury taking their charges into the Natural History Museum and the British Museum four times a week rather than once a week instead of new people visiting.

Answer 2

Why should you pay school taxes if you do not have kids in school?  Why should you pay for the fire department, the police department, the Board of Health, community colleges, and numerous other things if you PERSONALLY do not partake of them?  Because you live in a civilized society wherein we value the contributions of others, and supports the necessities of those who have no other recourse.  Would you like to LIVE in a community without any or all of the above? I would not.  I want to know that I live somewhere that HAS a police force, fire department, etc. Some communities have you choose whether you want to take your own trash to the dump, or pay a private hauler.  We do not have to even get INTO health insurance as handled by different countries.

The arts are not FUNDED by taxpayers, but supported to a very limited extent.  Even ticket sales contribute only a small amount.  Most funding comes from patrons and donors who SEE the value of the arts in a developed society. Most other civilized nations do this to a FAR greater extent than the US.  We rank SEVENTEENTH in overall quality of life.  Many of us could surmise the first few that outrank us - but SIXTEEN ahead of us?  It is sobering.

You labeled your question "performing arts research" but gave us no further explanation - leaving us to assume that 1. you are seeking support for a debate topic. or 2. you are a "bomb-tosser" - coming into this forum just to annoy people who clearly DO support the arts. Please clarify your stance.