Why We Must Fund the Arts: Power, Nature, and the Voices We Can’t Afford to Lose
In every city I’ve ever loved—whether here in Austin, or across an ocean—art is the heartbeat. It’s in the galleries and museums, yes, but also in the murals on side streets, the community theaters in old warehouses, and the pop-up shows in coffee shops. Without support, that heartbeat slows. And when art suffers, so do our communities.
Why We Need Art Funding
Art isn’t a luxury—it’s infrastructure for the human spirit. Funding isn’t just about paying for paint, lights, or rent. It’s about preserving spaces where people can wrestle with big questions, share stories, and feel seen. When we pull resources away from the arts, we’re saying that beauty, dialogue, and cultural memory are expendable.
In reality, they’re essential.
The Impact of Art on Communities
Strong arts ecosystems make stronger communities. Neighborhoods with accessible arts programming often see higher civic engagement, increased tourism, and even better local economies. But beyond statistics, art brings neighbors together. A mural can turn a blank wall into a shared landmark. A public sculpture can start conversations between strangers. A gallery opening can create a space where cultures, generations, and perspectives meet.
The Voice Art Gives to the Voiceless
Art can hold power to account. It can amplify experiences that might otherwise be dismissed or erased. For many, it’s the only way to tell their truth—when other avenues are closed. Whether through photography that documents injustice, poetry that breaks silence, or community theater that stages hidden histories, art makes space for the voices that have been kept out of the mainstream.
My Takeaways from Paris and Florence
In the halls of gilded museums, I stood before paintings that seemed to whisper truths too often ignored. So much of the art spoke of power—sometimes glorifying it, sometimes questioning it. What struck me was how often beauty was used to mask control, how often splendor served the elite. And yet, the most moving works weren’t those soaked in status—they were the ones rooted in nature.
It was the raw, quiet brilliance of nature’s art that broke me open. The brushstrokes of sky, leaf, and bloom—these were the masterpieces that brought me to tears.
Those moments reminded me: art isn’t always grand or framed. Sometimes it’s simply the way sunlight hits a courtyard wall, or the way a field of wildflowers shifts in the wind. Funding art means protecting all forms of it—those in cathedrals and those in backyards.
How We Can Support Local Artists, Museums, and Creative Spaces
Buy local art — even small purchases keep artists working.
Attend exhibitions and performances — your presence is as valuable as your ticket.
Volunteer at museums, cultural centers, or festivals.
Advocate for public funding at city council meetings and in local elections.
Sponsor community projects or partner your business with arts nonprofits.
If we want art to continue shaping our neighborhoods and challenging our perspectives, we have to keep it alive. That means funding it, fighting for it, and experiencing it—not as a rare treat, but as part of daily life.
After all, the brushstrokes that change us aren’t always painted by famous hands. Sometimes they’re created by the artist next door.
