Many governments spend a lot of money on art. Some people think this investment in art is necessary, but others say the money is better spent on improving health and education. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

It is generally accepted that art enriches

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society and plays a valuable role in its culture and history.

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some

support

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government

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investment in galleries,

artistic

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arts

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organisations and other art-related matters, others feel that

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money

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should be spent on public

services

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. In

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essay, I will consider both views and explain why I agree that state funding of the

arts

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should be redirected. Those who

support

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government

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funding usually argue that it is essential to maintain a healthy

arts

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scene. In Australia, the

government

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pours millions of dollars into

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sector, with the National Gallery alone receiving over $8 million annually.

Such

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institutions, it is claimed, are pillars of society, and

money

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from the

government

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makes them more accessible. Indeed, it is free to enter most public galleries and museums in Australia, thanks to the

government

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’s

support

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. Smaller

arts

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groups and emerging artists

also

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benefit from

government

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funding, and without it, many worry that

arts

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bodies would not survive

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and that society would be poorer for it. There are others,

however

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, myself included, who feel that these fears are unfounded

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and that taxpayers’

money

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would be more wisely spent on

services

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that benefit the entire community. Already, many

arts

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organisations not only survive but thrive without

government

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handouts. The Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania,

for instance

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, is the state’s major tourist attraction, despite earning

money

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solely from ticket sales and private investors.

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kind of self-sufficiency supports the claim that state

money

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should

instead

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go to hospitals which could certainly use more staff, more wards and better technology or schools where the

money

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could be put towards updating facilities, hiring more teachers or improving their resources. These are

services

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used by every citizen and, in many cases, they are severely underfunded. In conclusion, even though state

support

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of the

arts

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has been a long tradition, there are many other ways for artists and organisations to raise funds. It is more important for the

government

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to spend on vital

services

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such

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as education and healthcare.