Vermont Council on Arts Inc.

06/10/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/10/2025 11:28

Why Should the Government Fund the Arts

When your tax dollars fund the arts, you're not just underwriting concerts or exhibitions, you're fueling economic growth, enriching lives, and knitting together the social fabric of your community. It's one of the smartest, most far-reaching investments government can make with your hard-earned dollars.

Economic Well-Being
Government investment in the arts is an economic multiplier. Every dollar funneled into arts organizations supports artists, administrators, technicians, venue staff, and more. Arts and culture activity gives local business a boost. Arts events draw crowds that spend on restaurants, hotels, parking, and retail, generating additional revenue. In Vermont, nonlocal visitors who traveled from outside the county for an arts and culture event spent an average of $51.69 beyond the cost of admission. Local attendees spent an average of $28.88.

Public Health & Community Resilience
Government investment in the arts enhances quality of life for all, supporting mental health and well-being and creating community vibrancy. Participation in or exposure to the arts can reduce stress, foster empathy, and improve overall life satisfaction. Public art and cultural programming transform underused spaces into lively gathering spots, strengthening neighborhood pride and cohesion.

Education & Workforce Development
Government investment in the arts prepares our children for the workforce.Arts education builds creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication-skills prized in virtually every 21st-century career. The arts keep kids engaged: Schools with strong arts programs see higher attendance and lower dropout rates.

Rural Access
Without government‐supported arts, many rural, low-income, and underrepresented communities would lack access altogether.Your tax dollars help ensure everyone-regardless of ZIP code or income-can experience and create art. Public funding underwrites free or reduced-ticket offerings, sliding‐scale workshops, and outreach programs that private sponsors alone often overlook.

Civic Engagement & Social Capital
Government investment in the arts strengthens civic engagement and builds social capital. Attending a play, concert, or gallery opening is a communal act that builds trust and dialogue across diverse groups. Tax‐supported arts bodies often commission community‐driven projects, giving citizens a platform to tell their own stories-strengthening democratic participation.

Preservation of Heritage & Identity
Government investment in the arts safeguards history and builds cultural continuity. Museums, archives, and historical performance troupes rely on public support to conserve artifacts, traditions, and oral histories that define who we are. Your taxes help ensure that future generations inherit the same rich tapestry of stories, symbols, and creative practices we value today.

Public funding for arts and creativity is a high-return investment in every town and rural community nationwide, not only in the biggest cities. It improves the lives of all Americans, equips an innovative workforce, and keeps us competitive globally.

Here in Vermont, we are immensely grateful for the strong support for public funding of the arts arts from the Vermont Legislature, the Vermont state government, and our local communities. Thank you also to Vermont's Federal Congressional delegation for their support, leadership, and belief in the power of the arts.

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Vermont Council on Arts Inc. published this content on June 10, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 10, 2025 at 17:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io