While the stimulus bill that passed February 13 included $50 million in additional funding for the NEA, the amount of federal support for the arts remains dismal. Last year it was $124.4 million, this year it was upped to $144.7 million.
In the Omnibus Bill introduced by the Appropriations Committee of the House, it is slated to increase this coming year by $10 million bringing the NEA and NEH to a whoppng $155 million each, still far less than a dollar a person for the arts. We still spend more on military bands.
Of course, the arts remain one of the favorite whipping boys of the conservative, Republican and Blue Dog Democrats who find much political mileage in singling out controversial art for criticism and censure. While Congressional politician after politician seems to form a never ending lineup of lying, stealing and sexual miscreants, the arts are expected to remain lily white and pure.
Never mind the fact that the arts simply reflect society, and is both beautiful and bad. It's going to be a tough year.
History of NEA appropriations:
2007 $ 124,406,355
2006 $ 124,406,355
2005 $ 121,263,614
2004 $ 120,970,000
2003 $ 115,731,000
2002 $ 115,234,000
2001 $ 104,769,000
2000 $ 97,627,600
1999 $ 97,966,000
1998 $ 98,000,000
1997 $ 99,494,000
1996 $ 99,470,000
1995 $ 162,311,000
1994 $ 170,228,000
1993 $ 174,459,382
1992 $ 175,954,680
1991 $ 174,080,737
1990 $ 171,255,000
1989 $ 169,090,000
1988 $ 167,731,000
1987 $ 165,281,000
1986 $ 158,822,040
1985 $ 163,660,000
1984 $ 162,223,000
1983 $ 143,875,000
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