Criticism of “Grants Nurture Arts Spaces and Housing”

president of Ford Foundation (picture)

“Grants Nurture Arts Spaces and Housing” by Stephanie Strom discusses the new grant supported by the Ford Foundation. They are going to commit around $100 million to the building, renovating, and/or expanding art spaces across the nation. Strom states, “This notion of the economic benefits of the arts has become increasingly popular lately among arts financers and administrators, who are keenly aware that in times of economic paucity spending on the arts is sometimes seen as frivolous,”(Strom). But the president of Ford, Mr. Ubiñas, has seen that whole communities can build around the arts and revitalize deserted urban districts. So he committed this money to fund the arts and help struggling artists.

I think that this is a great thing that Ford is doing for artists and the community. It proves that not everyone in America thinks that the arts are just a frill. It will give artists a place to live, work, and hopefully make money through their work. Although it may just be about making money and not really about valuing arts and artists, at least it’s a step in favor of it.

Strom, Stephanie. "Grants Nurture Arts Spaces and Housing." New York Times (2010): n. pag. Web. 13 Apr 2010.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/arts/design/05ford.html?ref=design