Blue Mass Group

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Herald to Arts: Drop Dead

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Wow.  Those braniacs over at the Herald REALLY don’t get it, do they?

In an article that can only be described as “stupid”, Dave Wedge writes about grants the Massachusetts Cultural Council has made for various programs.  Citing “one legislative staffer,” Wedge assails arts funding through various backhanded journalistic tricks – like not coming out and making the accusations himself.  He left the job of doing the assailing to his editors and headline writers who elected to front-page his story. 

Fortunately, he salvaged what journalistic integrity he has left by quoting the director of the Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH).  A simple click through MAASH’s website reveals that as of 2000, the arts employ 43,500 people in Massachusetts. 

Shame on the Herald for such shortsightedness and thank goodness we have a new administration that won’t be cowed by such a lame article.

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Comments

  1. But doesn’t Lowell have a sizable Cambodian population?  I seem to have the idea that a sizable number of refugees from Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge settled there.

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    In that case it seems curious to single the Cambodian dance classes out.  Indeed, if this helps get Cambodian-American youth off the street, then it’s much cheaper than throwing them in Juvie.

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    Anyway, the Herald does this every year.  I remember in 2005 they decided that the State Geologist’s office was a waste of money (with prodding from the MassGOP).  I talked briefly with the Geologist himself who told me he brought in over $400,000 worth of Federal funding at no cost to the taxpayer.

    • Good — if dated — article on the Angkor Youth Dance Troupe here.

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      Of particular note:

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      The Angkor Dance Troupe recently inaugurated Angkor Youth Dance, an after-school and summer youth program conducted in partnership with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, the city police department and community schools program, and others. Angkor Youth Dance teaches Cambodian traditional dance while incorporating study skills training, violence prevention and drug resistance education, case management and referrals by professional social workers, and free meals. “It is a program designed to meet a critical need in our community,” notes Troupe President Chhan Touch. “By teaching dance, we are saving lives.”

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      Seems like a perfectly reasonable investment of $10k to me.

      • The Angkor Youth Dance Troupe is awesome and really adds to the community here. I think I feel a media rant coming on…thanks Hoss for wading through the muck to examine this, it’s worthy of a mention on LiL for many reasons, not the least of which is the Troupe.

        • Also received a $20k NEA grant in 2003.

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          Per Rep. Marty Meehan’s website:

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          The grant will provide ongoing instruction to at least 75 urban youth at risk of gang involvement, dropping out of school, or teen pregnancy. Most of the youth are Southeast Asians, and are refugees of the Khmer Rouge genocide or the Vietnam war. Besides the dance program, the project will also provide youth leadership development, college readiness, and other workshops.

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          (Also posted, in part, over at LiL.)

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