What are the arts worth to you? - Public Insight Network | St. Louis Beacon and the Nine Network of Public Media

What are the arts worth to you?

In our neighbor state to the west, Gov. Sam Brownback in June used a line-item veto to cut public funding for the Kansas Arts Commission, essentially closing the agency and making Kansas the only state without a unit to channel government money to arts and culture groups, according to the advocacy group Americans for the Arts. Arts advocates have said that eliminating the commission could cost the state as much as $1.2 million in federal funds. Closer to home, St. Louis-area arts groups are working to make do with less after the Regional Arts Commission told the groups last year that grant money would be cut by 15 percent.

As funding sources dry up, arts venues look for different ways to keep their doors open, even as patrons try to cope with less disposable income in their own wallets. The Beacon and Nine Network of Public Media want to hear from you about how you manage to support the arts for your own personal pleasure. What are you willing to pay? What are you willing to give up? Please respond to the questions below and tell us: What are the arts worth to you?

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E-mail *

First Name *

Last Name *

Street Address

City

State or Province

Postal Code *

Phone *

Please start by telling us where you fit in the arts world? (Check all that apply.)

I enjoy live performances (theater/music, etc).
I enjoy visual art in museums/galleries/studios.
I am an artist or performer.
I own, manage or work at an arts venue.
Other

If you picked "other" please explain.

How much do you spend on the arts every year/month/whatever, and on what, typically, do you spend it (theater, concerts, etc.) ?

What are your tricks for taking in culture on a budget? Tell us your favorite way to take in "art on the cheap."

What do you/would you give up to go to the theater or other arts attraction on a somewhat regular basis?

Do you make donations or gifts to arts venues as a "friend" or patron? If you have made donations in the past, what changes, if any, have you made recently? Are you giving more/less/about the same? Tell us why you support the arts in this way.

What else should we know about this topic? To whom else should we talk? (Please give us a way to contact them: email/phone number.)

May we use your comments as part of any on air or web presentation? We will include your full name and location and your response may be edited for length or clarity. *

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Are you willing to speak more about this with a reporter, producer or editor? *

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If you have an original photo of yourself, or one that illustrates your insights on this topic, please upload it here. (No larger than 2MB, please.)

Please share some details about this photo: names, date, location, and the story behind it.

Do we have your permission to post your photo on our website or use it on the air?

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So that we may better understand your perspective, please tell us more about yourself. All responses are voluntary.

In what year were you born?

What do you do for work? If you are retired, what was your former occupation?

For whom do you work (who is your employer)? If you are a student, which school do you attend?

What is your race or ethnicity?

How did you receive this PIN query?

I received it by direct email.
I saw it on the Beacon website.
I saw it on another website.
It was forwarded to me by a friend.
Other

If you picked "other," please explain.

Feel free to share this link with anyone you know who has insight to share about what the arts are worth to you: http://bit.ly/Beacononarts

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