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The Arts Get Short Shrift

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 30, 2008

It looks like Hillsborough County's public art program might be on the chopping block.

With county commissioners considering a proposal to slash the initiative, it's all too easy to think in terms of plus and minus columns and a testy budget sheet. This might be a dismal economic year, but the county's 1 percent set-aside program - based on the cost of new government buildings - reflects a commitment that should not be casually put to rest.

The idea of art is intrinsically noneconomic. Quantifying fountains and sculpture in a way that makes them readily disposable takes the heart out of art's purpose and serves to impoverish the community well beyond the few thousand dollars saved.

The arts in general have received short shrift far too long in this county. Every time there's a crunch, it seems like enrichment is the first casualty: funding for The Florida Orchestra, money for museums, priority shifts away from music in schools, fragile allocations for parks and river walks.

Too many of us fail to understand the role of the arts in maintaining a balanced and livable society. If we wait for leftover resources to fund these jewels, we already have decided that they are throwaways of little consequence in public life.

In 14th and 15th century Europe, the great cathedrals served as vehicles of cultural renaissance. While pyramids and other ancient monuments were built with slave labor, these amazing structures were assembled willingly by local people. They stand as testimony to community character, people's yearnings and their faith.

I'm tired of evoking the slogan: "Tampa: America's Next Great City." We already are a great city. It's a mantle we've already taken up, and I'm proud to say I live here.

This argument is different: Yes, we're a great city; we should acknowledge with pride that we've moved beyond the designation of "maybe." So now we have this responsibility to continue raising the bar; we need to celebrate both the facts and the possibilities.

We should celebrate with the arts. Let's thumb our noses at the naysayers with their "Take it out on art" mentality, and let's go for something spectacular.

Great art always costs something, but it costs significantly more to shut art down.

Where would this world be without renaissance, enlightenment and reformation?

Where would Tampa be if we lose that critical dimension of our community soul?

Columnist Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul @gmail.com.

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