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Out Late April
9th 2005
Listening
to NPR today, I heard about a very
unique program that is geared to get people more involved in their local
arts
Here's a quote from the NPR website:
There's a new incentive for Cleveland residents to patron the city's art scene during the work week: more sleep. To help reinvigorate local arts, Cleveland tourism officials are touting a program called "Late Out, Late In." Employees can arrive at work two hours late if they attend an arts event the night before.
At first blush I thought this was a very good idea. Then I started to realize what a sad commentary this is on our sense of culture in this country. That we actually have to put forth public incentives to get our citizens to participate in the arts.
I mean why stop with two hours off work? How about a free T-shirt? It could say something like "I went to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" Or how about bumper stickers? (Steve groans as he thinks of the image of Calvin relieving himself on the Venus De milo)
Oh, no wait. I've GOT IT! Reality TV. We could put a bunch of half naked teenagers inside a glass box in the middle of the Smithsonian. Then watch as the antics ensue.
Maybe I'm old fashioned, but when did experiencing wonderful art stop being enough of a motivation to go enjoy it?