Do We Need Art
It is difficult to fathom the importance of the arts when there are many more pressing and immediate concerns to face. But at the same time, should we only concern ourselves with survival and attending to our basic needs, then we are no better off than the poorest of poor countries despite our economic achievements to date.
Life should be varied and interesting, unexpected and changing. In fact, art should be around us, not in museums. It should be reflected in our landscape and our buildings. Paintings and sculptures on the streets, in schools and by the bus stops, make a far bigger difference than pouring money into a museum whose doors shut and close based on the artificial restrictions of time called a clock.
Art is innovation at its most basic level. Art is conception and inspiration. Most importantly, art is about discoveries, not mistakes. In a world where we concentrate on what is right and wrong, what is correct and incorrect, the world of art is a place where judgment is suspended and great discoveries are made because of it.
Art makes it possible to grasp the impossible, for lack of language, lack of knowledge or lack of technology.
Consider further that art connects us to one another where language and law is unable to do so.
Of course the arts in and of itself is not crucial to our survival as a nation. Again, if survival is all we are after, art is far from necessary. Furthermore, art being universal, we can always borrow from others what we cannot create ourselves.
But does it make sense to focus only on providing basic services? Economic cycles as they are, there will always be needs to be met and there will always be an excuse to exclude the arts.