The Facebook page for the Dallas Arts District included two links with regards to Dallas culture and arts budget. One article by KERA’s Lee Cullum with regards to what she described as disturbing cuts in the arts and culture budget for Dallas and Dallas Morning News Todd Roberson’s editorial piece that overall budget cuts inevitably impact arts spending and is necessary. Both authors make the case that private entities need to step up to support the arts. Comments fly back and forth on both sites from readers have varying opinions on cuts at all. Bottom line most constituents don’t want to cut anything but also don't want an increase in their taxes.

However, if there are major cuts in arts and culture, how does the Dallas support Mayor Tom Leppert's vision where "The arts district has a significant role and will continue to play in the development of our city, both in terms of culture and commerce?" A vision that civic and community leaders have had for over 30 years. Cullum’s article describes major cuts to the new AT&T Performing Arts Center from a $2.5 million commitment to now $800,000 for 2009 and 2010 and down to $200,000 for 2011. An article by Michael Lindenberger appeared in the Dallas Morning News addressed the federal funding of upgrades to the McKinney Avenue Trolley as part of the Obama administration's support of public streetcars. The Obama administration has just approved a $4.9 million grant after a few months back receiving a $23 million grant for streetcar improvements. An additional $5 million is being matched by the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The hope is that this uipgraded transit system will improve transportation in downtown Dallas, specifically since it will loop around the Arts District.

Dallas The Park Project

Improving transportation to the Arts District seems to be deemed by the city as necessary since they will have to find money to contribute to the entire cost of the project. This coincides with the vision for the Dallas’ The Park Project. The Park Project is part of a bigger plan to revitalize the city's core and connect all corners of a 68-acre cultural district, from museums, restaurants and residential towers to a new opera hall and performing arts center. So while cuts may be necessary, if public or private funding is reduced the state of the arts and culture of Dallas would be counter to the vision of the city’s future and hurt revitalization goals.

Dallas Ranking for the Arts

The New York Times has ranked Dallas #17 as one of the top 44 destinations in 2009 due to its arts district and it's billing as having the "largest urban arts district in the United States." Fast Company magazine has highlighted Dallas as a premier city in the nation due to being at the forefront of arts and culture. Important designations as we enter 2011 with the largest sporting event, Superbowl, that will bring in revenue not only to Arlington but also to Dallas, and residual tourists will be attracted to visiting Downtown Dallas. Dallas was also ranked fifth on away.com (a travel website) for the top ten US art cities for tourists.

Private Contributions and Measures

While both columnists discussed the need for more private funding, I most recently received a survey about the Arts District with a question that sought to determine my willingness to sponsor smaller art projects in the city.  Small support on an individual level. Many of the comments on the articles talked about corporate sponsorships, however, including private sponsorships even on a small scale could also be an option since corporate spending has been reduced.  The call to create possibly a coop of individuals to pool for funding and to utilize their talents and resources to apply for grants for private funding may also be an alternative.  The point is that a necessary commitment must be done on an individual level since what happens at that level has the potential to expand exponentially to a group level, business level, corporate level, and upwards.

Some corporations do an outstanding job at supporting the arts. And while I don’t want to leave anyone out, there are few that donate a large portion to Dallas arts endeavors. While many believe that corporations should donate more, this economy would make it difficult for corporations to donate to such endeavors. Dallasites should take more of an initiative to be better advocates for arts and culture as a measure to ensure more funding whether private or public.

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