Stimulating the Stimulators

The new American economic stimulus program isn't all cars and investors. It also includes $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.

The 44-year-old federally funded organization exists to offer funding and support for artistist projects, not unlike our own Canada Council for the Arts. The NEA slogan: "A great country deserves great art."

In an interview with CNN, former NEA chairman, actress Jane Alexander challenges the notion that arts funding isn't good for the economy.

"What people forget is that there are over 2 million people in the United States of America who are professional artists. Those are jobs like any other jobs. The artists have families, they have people for whom they're responsible and they give to their communities."

 The full interview on CNN is an interesting read.