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

a

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

Although

some

support

government

investment in galleries,

artistic

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arts

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organisations and other art-related matters, others feel that

this

money

should be spent on public

services

. In

this

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

arts

should be redirected. Those who

support

government

funding usually argue that it is essential to maintain a healthy

arts

scene. In Australia, the

government

pours millions of dollars into

this

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

Such

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

money

from the

government

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

government

’s

support

. Smaller

arts

groups and emerging artists

also

benefit from

government

funding, and without it, many worry that

arts

bodies would not survive

,

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

however

, myself included, who feel that these fears are unfounded

,

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and that taxpayers’

money

would be more wisely spent on

services

that benefit the entire community. Already, many

arts

organisations not only survive but thrive without

government

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

for instance

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

money

solely from ticket sales and private investors.

This

kind of self-sufficiency supports the claim that state

money

should

instead

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

money

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

services

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

support

of the

arts

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

government

to spend on vital

services

such

as education and healthcare.