Portsmouth Herald
RAN 2/20/96 Pg. A1
POLL ASKS CANDIDATES ABOUT FUNDING THE ARTs
By Lars Trodson
Herald Staff
   PORTSMOUTH - The Bipartisan Campaign for the Arts and Humanities has
polled the leading presidential candidates on where they stand on funding
cultural activities, and the group did not like what it heard.
   The campaign, which was kicked off six weeks ago in New Hampshire, is
attempting to have arts funding become part of the national political debate.
   Several local organizations, including The Children's Museum of
Portsmouth, Pontine Movement Theatre, The Music Hall and Strawbery Banke, are
participating in the campaign.
   ``I find the candidates' responses - or non-responses - puzzling,'' said
filmmaker Ken Burns, who is based in Walpole. ``The issue of federal funding
affects not only our nation's cultural life and heritage, but New Hampshire's
economic future.''
   The candidates' responses, which were elicited through questionnaires or,
if the candidate did not respond, by questions posed at campaign events, are
as follows:
   l Sen. Bob Dole (responding to Bipartisan staffer question): ``While
budget cuts for tightening are needed everywhere, the arts were too important
to all of us to eliminate from funding.''
   l Steve Forbes (staff question): ``The flat tax will take care of this.
When people have more money, they give more, even if charitable contribution
exemptions are curtailed.''
   l Lamar Alexander (responding to questionnaire): ``I believe that
America's artistic heritage is best preserved, celebrated and fostered by
families and communities. Funding for the arts should come primarily from the
private sector. The NEA has played an important role ... But the NEA has
brought on a lot of its own problems by funding projects that are, frankly,
deeply offensive to most Americans.''
   - Pat Buchanan (response from his campaign literature): ``All federally
funded institutions, from the Smithsonian to the National Endowment for the
Arts, will manifest a respect for America's history and values ...''
   - Morry Taylor, Alan Keyes and Robert Dornan: According to the Bipartisan
Campaign, all expressed the opinion that federal funding for the arts should
be eliminated.
  l Richard Lugar: ``Federal funding for the arts should decrease slightly.''
  - President Clinton (responding to questionnaire): ``We have to continue to
make the arts available to all Americans. They teach us what binds us
together regardless of whether we live in America's inner city or the most
isolated rural communities.'' Clinton did not advocate increasing funding,
but said ``Fighting for continued level-funding for both the NEA and NEH is
important.''