Bite the Hand

Americans for the Arts announces that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is set to get $50 million through the Economic Recovery Bill and NEA Chairperson Dana Gioia wants you not to worry, he's got your back.

In a statement released on January 22nd, 2009 we are assured that arts organizations are going to get what's coming to them:

"Arts organizations have been hit enormously hard by the current recession. They've seen their support drop from corporations, foundations, and municipalities. This infusion of funds will help sustain them, their staffs, and the artists they employ."

Further down in the NEA press release we get this:

"A review of NEA grants for FY 2008 revealed that for every $10,000 of grant money, 162 artists benefited. This number does not include the arts administrators involved in these projects..."

Wait.

I am not a mathematician, but I do own a calculator and it tells me that $10,000 divided by 162 artists = $61.72 per artist.

So for every $10,000 in grant money 162 artists benefit to the tune of $62 each.

Fine. It is the depression and I will take your $62, but I have two more questions:

1. How much are the arts administrators getting?*

2. Whose hand do I bite?

*According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, arts administrators in performing arts companies earned an average yearly salary of $89,370 in 2007. Those working for museums and similar institutions averaged $87,520.