In a move certain to startle curators at public art instituions across the US, The Andy Warhol Foundation issued a statement today saying that it would no longer fund any future exhibits at the National Portrait Gallery. The Foundation provided over $300,000 to the embattled exhibit "Hide/Seek." According to their public statement, the Foundation had attempted through back channels to have David Wojnarowicz’s video, "A Fire in My Belly" reinstated in the show, obviously, to no avail.
What does this move mean?
As considered last week in this blog, an escalation of this situation has the potential to play straight into the hands of the small, rabid corner of the Republican Party that hews to a radical Christian Fundamentalism, one based in such a resolute ignorance of the laws of our nation as to make it possible for Rep Boehner to demand the removal of a video from an exhbit he never attended, a video he never saw, made by an artist he has never heard about, claiming the right to do so using suspicious interpretations of "rights" under the US Constitution. I think it reprehensible that the video was removed, however, removing the possibility of future Warhol Foundation funding to the National Portrait Gallery will severely restrict this adventrous group of curators in their ability to tell the stories of all Americans.
And that's great news for members of "The Family." Now all they have to do is completely tie up allocations to governmental arts agencies by demanding a thorough examination of the recent history of the use of "tax payers' dollars" to drive further wedges between art makers, art lovers, art consumers, art educators, entertainment consumers, entertainment producers...Yes, these are all false constructs, to a certain extent, but these divisions, real or perceived, will take on a new gravitas, playing more significantly in national policy than they have in recent memory.
For an example of the type of strategic trojan horse or "The Play" type moves we as art makers/lovers/funders can expect, one need only to look at a story that YES! Magazine is breaking today about a hidden attack on Social Security in the extension of Bush-era tax cuts. According to the article, the payroll tax break that is to go to the workers directly, in little bity increments mind you, is to be funded from Social Security, not from the General Fund. The article goes on to explain that in a few years when this temporary tax relief approaches expiration, it can be spun as a tax hike while simultaneously used as proof that Social Security is faltering; payments from Social Security to workers will be covered by the General Fund, which will then need to pay more into Social Security because more will come out...and I do hope you are getting the picture.
Essentially, any local clergy member can now hunt out an "offensive" image, show, choreography, declare it a waste of tax payer dollars in these fiscally tight and morally wayward times, and force the hands of local presenters/museums dependent on public dollars. Now more than ever it is important to send congratulatory letters the public artists and venues that move you. A stack of letters from pleased tax payers goes a long way to support the work of the civic art producer/funder/curator. if you have not signed up for your local arts action network, sign up now. If there is not one, start one.
Art production, touring, curating, and exhibiting cannot become the purview of private entities alone. Should that happen, those who need the vitality and inspiraiton that art making brings to life will have significantly decreased access to it. Let's not forget that a cornered art market, in all meanings of the phrase, also provides a DEEP tax shelter for the rich, depriving cities of much needed revenue in order to support things like publicly funded arts-in-the school programs, while giving them the power to shape (or eradicate) local art scenes.
Sign up for ARTS4LA if you are here in el Lay. Please post comments with links to other local arts advocacy groups.
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