EPISODE · Nov 21, 2023 · 47 MIN
Advocating for Public Funding in Every Community
from Small Town Big Arts · host Media Squatch
Geoff engages in a thoughtful conversation with Margaret Hancock, the Executive Director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Committed to upholding the Commission's mission, Margaret is actively advocating for the equitable distribution of state funds to reach every municipality in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Notably, the current disparity in funding primarily affects smaller rural communities scattered throughout the state.It is crucial that public funding for the arts extends beyond densely populated cities in Virginia and also reaches rural towns and less populated counties. The reasons for this imperative are manifold. Firstly, there is the evident issue of equitable distribution of tax dollars, impacting the entire citizenry. Additionally, there is a significant cultural impact that these funds can bring about. The arts serve as economic drivers, enhancing the quality of life in any locale. Finally, when these funds reach every corner of the state, the politics of advocacy for the arts become less contentious and are not a wedge issue. The arts should be perceived not as exclusive but as something for everyone, everywhere.
What this episode covers
Geoff engages in a thoughtful conversation with Margaret Hancock, the Executive Director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Committed to upholding the Commission's mission, Margaret is actively advocating for the equitable distribution of state funds to reach every municipality in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Notably, the current disparity in funding primarily affects smaller rural communities scattered throughout the state.It is crucial that public funding for the arts extends beyond densely populated cities in Virginia and also reaches rural towns and less populated counties. The reasons for this imperative are manifold. Firstly, there is the evident issue of equitable distribution of tax dollars, impacting the entire citizenry. Additionally, there is a significant cultural impact that these funds can bring about. The arts serve as economic drivers, enhancing the quality of life in any locale. Finally, when these funds reach every corner of the state, the politics of advocacy for the arts become less contentious and are not a wedge issue. The arts should be perceived not as exclusive but as something for everyone, everywhere.
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Advocating for Public Funding in Every Community
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