Arts Funding as Basic Infrastructure: US Cuts vs. Global Models

A recent summary from ArtsJournal reveals a widening gap in funding strategies for the arts. In the United States, public financial support is on the decline; for instance, Philadelphia's contribution to arts budgets decreased from 7% in 2019 to just 1% in 2024. Chicago has eliminated its arts agency, and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, a historic institution over 200 years old, nearly faced closure before receiving a rescue package. Additionally, Washington is contemplating the withdrawal of federal support for the Smithsonian. Conversely, other regions are incorporating culture into their revenue frameworks. Scotland intends to test a minimum income for 2,000 artists, while Edinburgh plans to enhance summer festival funding by 25% through a tourist tax. California will provide tax incentives for newsrooms based on journalist hires, and Toronto's symphony has partnered with a toll-highway operator to fund five years of concerts in suburban areas. The key idea is to view culture as essential infrastructure rather than a budgetary luxury.