I personally think the arts will flourish. Remember the wonderful movies, music and photography that came out of the depression. There was a need to be uplifted and entertained, a yearning to express your feelings and sense of helplessness. What can possibly take your mind off  the stress in your life  better than loosing yourself in the fantasy of a movie, or getting lost in the beauty of a symphony, or  any live music. Maybe people will not be purchasing expensive artworks, which were probably over-inflated by the excess of money in the past 15 years, but they will be creating their own art.

I’ve heard that applications to music & art schools are up, hey, when there are no jobs out there you might as well go for what your passion is.

 Art has always expressed the conscience  and mood of a society, we should see some very interesting, creative things coming out of this time.  

Is Mona Lisa frowning?

When I saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre I didn’t think she was either smiling or frowning.  The look on her face was very tranquil.

It was amazing to stand before such a piece of ART.

I loved the Louvre……..Only had one day in the musuem……..could spend months and months and never see everything.

Art will always survive…..The people might not make the riduculous prices now but it will come back.

I’m like Judith, I’m concerned about the Performing Arts.

Further suggestions of doom and gloom - now of the art world - do nothing to brighten our spirits.  Just the opposite.  There are good things happening.  There are rays of sunshine if you just open it to us, the writers, to have the opportunity to tell you that we still have stories that only can fill us with hope, with life. . and give us up front coverage.

Bill Gates has just given me - and the project I am working on - a very large grant.  . and that, with the monies put away over a period of time for just this moment, has had me pouring over blueprints, architectural plans that will come into fruition this year - and, just as importantly, will give jobs to many who might be out of work otherwise. 

In life, in work, it is all a matter of timing .  . and waiting for just the right time to make a splash, bring in sunshine to the lives of others.  As the architects, space planners, and principals in a public building re-design project I am working on spilled excitement into a room this week, we refined the details down to the small points.  I knew that the end result of this would probably be a large focal point in many lives, lives that were almost down to depression level already. 

While this public building I am working on is the re-design of good-sized library of the future, the centerfold - so to speak - is a wonderfully lit gallery of contemporary art (!!) which I think is stunning.  Ever changing exhibits keep it fresh.   But around that complete center, all will change.  Those of us who have the foresight early, looked far ahead, projected what needs children, people in general will find appealing in the coming worsening time.  We want our ideas to be a drawing card - the biggest - for the suburbs of our large city.  Bill Gates - through the thoughfulness of his grant - is helping.  We are going to invite him to see the end result of our efforts -and a portion of his money - at completion at year’s end.

Going to work each day is a joy — for we know that the thousands of people - young and old that will benefit - this project may be, by that time, the major thing that will light up their lives.  All will be free - but there will be a craft room, glassed-in family technology centers where parents can bring their children to their own safe environment while they can work on computers, with plenty to keep the children busy and happy in that private space.  Heavy programming is being planned in anticipation of families not being able to afford "entertainment" costs.  Computers for the surprising numbers that still don’t have computers - believe it or not - will be large component in the attractive sections that we are designing.  Tutoring, classes outside in secluded areas for children, children’s gardening opportunities that most have never had, all keep us so highly motivated.  Refining blueprints - and oh! the plans to make this a super friendly place are enlivening — to me, to us.

Just think:  the jobs will be providing work for those who live close by this year - at a time when we say there ARE no jobs.  A plethora of the latest books, DVDs, large print, every element that will bring happiness to people in the bad times ahead will be offered.  Older and can’t get out?  Home delivery of books and more, help in making selections if needed are only a phone call away.  Help with job hunting?  Of course. 

To the question you posed:  of course, the art world has its own woes as would be expected.  But can’t we focus front and center on more stories of those who are making the darkening world so much brighter for thousands as we are.

Until there is light at the end of this long tunnel, I - we - believe that we are doing wonders to bring a special kind of brightness into a dark world.  And our exterior, interiors will be their own work of art. 

Liz and Candace both make good points.

 A creative person will continue to create, regardless of economic times. Maybe the media used will change, but the creative spirit will live on.

Arts of any kind should be appreciated. Once a child is involved in music, drawing or dancing their capacity for learning increases. Art has helped hyperactive children mainstream in to the classroom.

We need to fund this as much as we do football a sacred rite of passage in many schools! The first thing usually cut in a school budget is funding for the arts. You don’t hear about sports getting cut but music and art classes are often some of the first things to go because they aren’t considered essential.

If we fully appreciated what creative outlets can do for our young maybe there would be more support for the arts.