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 society and plays a valuable role in its culture and history.
Although
some
support
government
investment in galleries,
artistic
Replace the word
arts
show examples
organizations 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 art groups and emergency artist
also
benefit from
government
funding, and without it, many worry that
arts
bodies would not survive and that society would be poorer for it. There are others,
however
, myself included, who feel that these fears are unfounded
,
Remove the comma
apply
show examples
and that taxpayers'
money
would be more wisely spent on
services
that benefit the entire community. Already, many
arts
organisation 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.
Submitted by daniel.manole88 on

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