In the UNC School of the Arts, North Carolinians have a rare resource - a public fine arts school that routinely produces talented musicians, actors and the like.
North Carolina is just one of three states with such an institution, New York and Massachusetts being the other two. And while it's hard to argue with the talent created by the school, this question remains: Should such a school, which costs more per student than any other public campus in the state and caters to a small population, be supported by tax dollars?
That's the crux of a question tackled in a new report from the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy. In it, author Max Borders questions whether a school that enrolls just 1,161, including 289 high schoolers who go for free, should be a public initiative.
In an accompanying column, the Pope Center's George Leef writes that the school's original purpose when created in 1965 - to help the state "escape the stereotype of being a 'cultural wasteland', " hasn't quite happened.
Put another way: What is the public benefit for North Carolina?
Click here to read the report.
Comments
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Fri, 01/08/2010 - 22:51 — yuying520sdifisdufkjncxk
Consider the source...
Mon, 12/07/2009 - 10:10 — bgcovingThe blogger needs to remember (if they are old enough) that conservatives in this state have been trying to pull NCSA's funding pretty much since the day it opened in 1965. The latest from the Pope Foundation is another example of research methodology being used to advance a particular ideological result, as always the exact same tactic conservatives have accused the left of using for years. If the Pope Foundations' yardstick of return on investment were applied to the other sixteen member institutions of the University system, then the preponderance of UNC system graduates who leave the state and fail to 'give' back to the state's economy would dwarf NCSA's. It is a research red herring that fails to compare apples to apples.
The fine arts are always an expensive investment for a subjective return. As a graduate of NCSA I can look out over the arts landscape in North Carolina and can tell you that what I see now is an expansive and well-developed artistic community, albeit one that struggle financially, over the one that existed in the state when I matriculated at NCSA in 1976. What we have now is due in large part to the efforts of visionary North Carolinians to advance the fine arts despite opposition from political neanderthals like Art Pope.
The N&O needs to make certain they clearly identify the source, and the agenda, when reporting on 'research' by 'institutions' like the Pope Foundation.
And as for the report itself, I raise my voice in the old NCSA battle cry;
"SLING 'EM BY THE WARTS!!!!!!!"
Shouldn't a newspaper blog use journalism skills?
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 23:58 — TeamTrainersThis piece leaves out quite a bit of information, which I find disturbing as a UNCSA graduate who also holds a master’s degree in journalism. It fails to point out that the source of the report is a conservative think tank, for example. Furthermore, it accepts the “research” in the paper without any sign of journalistic skepticism or accuracy. For example, you report Leef’s assertion that Borders says “very few of the graduates of UNCSA are employed in North Carolina.”
The only fact Borders uses is this: “Only 27 of the 194 alumni listings in Callboard live or actively work in North Carolina—14 percent.” First, he himself admits the listing is informal. And he does not even claim to have used scientifically valid content analysis.
Borders’ use of Callboard, the alumni magazine, as a test of NC employment of alumni is laughable to regular readers. Precisely for the reasons Borders would want it to—to save money—Callboard has become little more than a flyer, unable to carry every listing alumni sent in (the way my grad school's magazine does). It only seems rational to me for the editorial staff to use their limited space to highlight people who have artistic achievements of significant consequence, and artists from around the country (not just NC) tend to concentrate in a few cities much larger than any in North Carolina. That’s not the school’s fault. Julliard undoubtedly keeps a high percentage of its graduates at home, but that’s because it is located in New York City.
I suspect a scientific analysis of the school’s records would find the ratio of alumni living in and out of the state is similar to the historical ratio of the student body’s origins (like any college's). And many of us who chose other careers continue to contribute to the arts in North Carolina. I’m no longer a backstage worker, but I will be supporting both the arts and children by working on the Nutcracker for City Ballet. Furthermore, the lessons I learned about managing a show contribute directly to the value I add to North Carolina as a certified project manager. Only a scientifically valid survey of graduates asking where they live, whether they are involved in the arts in some fashion, and how the lessons of UNCSA apply to their daily life can determine what UNCSA alumni are contributing to the state.
I don't wish this bit of advice to sound harsh, but... from now on, if you are going to blog for a newspaper, don’t just write—report.
Missing Facts
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 23:39 — litetechThe author conveniently forgets to mention a few facts.
UNCSA provides entertainment and arts for the "City of the Arts" - Winston-Salem, in abundance. Many of these events are low-cost or free. The School also takes an Opera to Raleigh every other year as part of the Fletcher Opera program. There did not seem to be any comments made about the River Run Film festival or the Craftsman festival in Winston that is heavily supported by the schools student body and faculty.
The high school does not charge tuition in the same way that the NC School of Math and Science does not charge tuition - even for resident students.
UNCSA is part of a partnership for the CDI or Center for Design Innovation. http://www.centerfordesigninnovation.org/Web/Content/index.php
The site speaks for itself but the partnership develops ways for arts, science and technology.
The schools budget and appropriations may come to 30 million. However, the author fails to point out that amount is about 1% of the University systems budget. The UNC-TV appropriations are bigger. In other words, the public TV station at Chapel Hill gets more money from the University system than the entire campus of UNCSA.
Acknowledge Pope Foundation's Agenda
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 11:18 — YasminahHey Eric, its your journalistic obligation to note the agenda of the Pope Foundation and not to just post this as it if were completely unbiased fact. This is opinion from a deeply conservative organization that doesn't hesitate to twist the truth to serve its agenda. You should acknowledge that agenda and the fact that this is opinion, not fact, when referring to anything put out by this organization.
That said, North Carolinians should be very proud of the School of the Arts and what it brings to this state. The new chancellor, John Mauceri, has already made a significant impact. One of the things that differentiates North Carolina from many other southern states is our commitment to education and the arts, and the School of the Arts is a great example of that.
Anti-education Higher Ed Foundation?
Thu, 12/03/2009 - 15:20 — tkb_talosSo far this week it seems that the Pope Foundation doesn't like helping poor kids go to college; now it looks like they don't really care for art and entertainment either. I think that they would be most satisfied if our public education system focused on producing a steady stream of low-level service employees who can run cash registers, fix roads and slaughter pigs. Apparently, you're only entitled to a 'no-frills' education unless you're lucky enough to be born into a family that can afford to send you to private school.
benefit
Thu, 12/03/2009 - 11:57 — DrCarolinathe school has put out some great artists of all types (directors, actors, sculptors, etc), many of whom have brought their trade to this state, bringing in jobs and money (most recently, HBO tv show "Eastbound and Down"). The economic and cultural benefits of the school are significant. Additionally, anything coming from the Pope family or an organization it funds regarding education should be taken with a box of salt, considering it's long standing stance against almost all forms of public education in North Carolina (despite the Constitutional right to a good education in the State).
Taking away that school
Thu, 12/03/2009 - 11:21 — ashley41683Taking away that school would send the wrong message when most public institutions are already killing their arts programs due to budget cuts. Even if they aren't employed in the state they bring recognition to the program for being so well taught and trained at what they do. And saying there is no arts culture in North Carolina is a vastly wrong assumption. We have a quite well developed film industry, the music scene in North Carolina is extremely strong in both the classical sense with our orchestra and ballet programs as well with the indie scene with many extremely popular bands signed to major labels bringing interest to the area as a source for good music. We also have hugely successful festivals like SPARKcon here in downtown Raleigh that focus on nothing but the arts by the people. And has he ever visited Asheville? Because you're saturated in the arts in that city. I think that guy might be a bit of a philistine and needs to get over himself.