Saving Federal Arts Funds: Selling Culture as an Economic Force

In arguing for the $50 million in arts money on the House floor on Friday, Mr. Obey made similar points. Arts workers, he said, have 12.5 percent unemployment: “Are you suggesting that somehow if you work in that field, it isn’t real when you lose your job, your mortgage or your health insurance? We’re trying to treat people who work in the arts the same way as anybody else.”