Tweak Seattle Arts Commission's Mission

By Dick Falkenbury

At this time, the Arts folks buy art by committee. They'll deny this of course, but it's true nonetheless.

We should appoint twelve members (or whatever number you choose) to the Commission. Let's make it twelve--a good Biblical number. And let's say that their budget is $12 million--to make it easy. Each member would be given $1 million to spend as they saw fit. Any way that they want. Lots of little pieces or several big ones. Maybe a free concert or several plays at the Empty Space. Buy one Graves or gobs of some unknown painter. They might choose to throw the one million on one dance or pay off the mortgage of a struggling studio.

My other idea is to encourage the Commission to pay for the raw materials of art rather than the finished pieces. They may choose to lower the prices on all items at Seattle Art Supply for a month rather than buying a finished piece. They could choose to lower the price of all seats at the Rep instead of backing a particular show or production. They could pay for the firing of the kiln rather than buying what comes out of the kiln.

Talk to Dick: falkenbury@aol.com.

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