More Arts and Faith

So the American for the Arts is touting the recent study on the health of the arts in the U.S. called the National Arts Index. I've been comparing art and faith a lot lately, not just here on the blog, but in my life generally. As I read the quick over view at the link I wondered about how difficult it would be to replace the principles of the study to reflect the IC (arts industries and organizations), Christianity (the formally recognized art forms and presentations), spirituality (interest in the arts in general), and the public and if the results would mirror any actual study.

For instance if we changed the third bullet point which focuses on demand for the arts lags capacity. Does demand for the IC lag the capacity that exists? Are churches closing down as regularly as NFP arts organizations are closing down?

I still ponder if what we are experiencing in the arts is this discontent with arts machines and if this is also reflected in the Church in the U.S. I think oddly what this index represents as what is wrong with the current arts model and more material measures of an immaterial nature. As one of the directors said at the beginning of the podcast about this Index said "What is treasured is measured". Odd thing to say when artists are concerned with immeasurables. Seems to me to measure art is to then define it's confines and limit its effectiveness.

I don't know. Just some musings. I just sense the cause of the discontent many feel with the arts is the same discontent with the Church.

Joe