The epilogue discusses recent developments in arts funding and philanthropy. The divergent paths of Rockefeller and Ford—where the former discontinued its arts program and the latter rebranded its cultural work in terms of addressing “inequality”—is a revealing outcome of the increasing social and economic legitimation of arts funding. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) experienced its first budget cut under President Reagan and then, amidst the culture wars, Congress slashed its budget further. Private contributions have increasingly taken up the slack, but not without their own challenges. New philanthropists are exploring limited liability corporations, donor-advised funds, and metrics and outcomes-based funding. With increasing economic and political inequality and decreasing civic engagement, the government funds foregone because of tax-deductible charitable contributions might be re-evaluated, as well as the ways the federal government may be better suited to provide resources more equitably. An ethics of expertise is now more critical.
Consider outcomes‐based funding, special assistance during COVID‐19
