Certain Republican lawmakers have said that they object to parts of the Biden COVID relief plan on the grounds of irrelevance. They say that money allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities is part of “Democratic wish list,” and has nothing to do with COVID relief. Perhaps they are not aware of the vast numbers of people who depend on the arts for employment — not just the artists themselves — and who have been put out of work by the closure of theaters and museums.
There are electricians, carpenters, ushers, sound engineers, stagehands, security guards and custodial staff. There are dressers, costumers, wigmakers, and makeup people. There are agents, promoters, printers, caterers and drivers. There are curators and librarians, not to mention all those who work in the box offices, gift shops and restaurants. There are musicians, many of whom rely not only on live gigs but on teaching to make a living, which they also have not been able to do. The film and television industries employ countless people as well. Getting the arts back in business will mean the return of a lot of jobs, and bring us closer to the end of this crisis.
C. Roberts
Middlebury