The arts is an economic engine. Having a robust artistic environment does create jobs and brings money in a community
The arts is an educational resource. Having art in the schools is good for teachers, students and parents.
But if I had to list the top ten reasons for any sort of arts funding (individual, corporate, or otherwise) those reasons would be number 9 and 10 respectively.
The strongest arguments for funding the arts are also the most obvious ones.
The arts enlighten us, challenge us and have the capability to broaden our horizons like few other things can.
That is our greatest strength and our greatest case for support.
When we allow other things to become the primary reason why the arts are "important" the field is weakened.
The irony is that as we in the arts kept trying to make economics our lead argument for relevance, many for profit organizations are trying to add more artistic elements to what they do.
It's not surprising now for a CEO to emphasis things like design and storytelling as much as a strong balance sheet.
So while many of us are learning to become more "business-like", corporations are trying to become more like us.
That's because they understand that in a world with too much of everything, one of the only ways to survive is by appealing to a potential customer's sense of meaning and purpose.
Which is what the arts has been doing since the beginning.
As an artist, don't be afraid to embrace the "intangible" benefits of what you do. Yes, they may be difficult to explain (though you should try), but I think people are now more willing to embrace intangible benefits they ever before.
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