Designed for public arts leaders and advocates, Why Should Government Support the Arts? provides answers to these questions and describes why the arts are an essential public investment. This document invites conversation and reflection about the value of the arts to American communities. It also provides resource material and research citations that any state can use to support its case for the arts.

Here are answers to some of the tough questions asked in hard economic times about government funding:

• Why should government support the arts?
• Are the arts a worthwhile investment during hard economic times?
• Why can’t the private sector pick up the costs?
• Why are state arts agencies important?