Comments on: The Art of the Matter

By: Melyssa

Melyssa — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:03:20 +0000

Why not put a call out to the nation’s artists that we’ll give them FREE space for public installations. Then let people buy it. There are a lot of up and coming artists with serious talent that can’t get anywhere significant to show their work.
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People aren’t thinking. They just line up with their hands out.

By: Melyssa

Melyssa — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:01:28 +0000

I organized a fundraiser and in one night raised $500 or $600 for Big Car…and had drinks while we were doing it. We were barely thanked for it. This spending is nuts.
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Not only that, but if they hired good marketing/sales/fundraising types and paid them a cut of what they raised…they would be fine.
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Problem is NO ONE wants to work for what they get. They just want the hand out.
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I volunteered to help Asante with fundraising. The director turned down my help.
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And there you have it.

By: Bart Flies

Bart Flies — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:59:21 +0000

According to my math, this piddly amount of money makes up only about 1% of the city’s budget. So using your exact words, Abdul:

“If the city is going to go out of business over what amounts to basically 1% of its budget then maybe they should spend a little less time in city hall and more on math.”

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:07:52 +0000

John,
That’s a lot of overhead. The city would be better off just writing its own checks and distancing itself from the Arts Council.

By: Moneyguy

Moneyguy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:14:55 +0000

The sad part is all the money wasted on the Lucas Oil Dome. If the Colts turn mediocre then the taxpayers will pay for all the empty parking spaces and seats. Still not sure whose picking up all the cost overruns and maintenance. Sports trumps the arts in our society. Maybe the artist and their patrons should turn to the Lilly Endowment, the Simon Family or the Irsay Family. 1.5 million would be a drop in the bucket for them.

By: John Howard

John Howard — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:38:46 +0000

Ed, that’s (at least partially) the administrative overhead.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:23:18 +0000

Folks, we need to ride this one all the way to the end. Just remember, it is a chosen few who are tucking money like this away for their own club members. One hand washes the other. Only common citizens can influence real change, and then only by demanding it with the power of the vote.

By: Daw-g

Daw-g — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:45:15 +0000

I knew from days ago the 1.5 million was a drop in the bucket of these organization’s kitty. I like the exposure this is getting. The exposure may one day be used to axe not 1/3 of the arts budget but all of it.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:16:20 +0000

Speaking of doing the math I get a total of about 862,000 for the agencies specified (and which were named in the fiscal ordinance). Where’s the other 637,000?

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:02:30 +0000

100% agreement with Dave. Follow the money. It is all part of the age old scheme of those on the inside providing for each others pet projects on the backs of everyday working stiffs. Shame on them. Let them cut loose with some of their own money.