Art Watchers

Maine congressional delegations traditionally have supported the arts nearly as enthusiastically as they have stood by fish and potatoes. But it was gratifying last week to see freshman Rep. Michael Michaud join the Congressional Arts Caucus, to be swiftly followed this year by Rep. Tom Allen.

Like the programs publicly supported through the National Endowment for the Arts, the caucus is the opposite of an enclave for the elite. It has nearly 150 members, who have joined because they understand the role of the arts in providing powerful and challenging ideas beyond academia and a few famous museums. Caucus members work with arts groups, community and business leaders and other arts supporters to initiate needed legislation or simply to demonstrate their commitment to the NEA’s important work. Their support is needed for more than just the NEA budget – arts funding also comes through such sources as the federal education budget and can be found in surprising places, such as highway improvement and in the construction of public buildings.

The Bangor region has a particular reason to encourage Maine’s members of Congress to support the arts. It learned from its experiences with the National Folk Festival last year, in which Sen. Susan Collins’ help was crucial in raising federal funds, that its economy can benefit significantly from welcoming artists into the community more often. This is the crass side of the funding, but it takes nothing away from the enjoyment of seeing a performance or visiting an exhibition to notice also that the nearby hotel is full and the fellow art lovers wandering around with you seem especially well-heeled.

So here are the numbers: A 2002 study found the nation’s nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion annually, including $24.4 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues. It created 4.85 million full-time equivalent jobs and nearly $90 billion in household income. The Travel Industry Association of America a couple of years ago found that 92.4 million, or 46 percent, of U.S. adult travelers included a cultural, arts, heritage or historic activity while on a trip during the previous year. Visiting historic sites was the most popular cultural activity, followed by visiting a museum, an art gallery and seeing live theater. What this shows more than anything is that when people get time to do what they choose, they very often choose the arts.

Bangor – all of Maine, for that matter – can do much more to improve the quality of life here by encouraging the arts while also improving the economy. Having Maine’s congressional delegation members helping in Washington is essential, and their new or ongoing commitment is reassuring.