Around the US, states are cutting or cutting out their support for the arts. One Governor who just wiped out his State Commission on the Arts believes that the arts should singularly be supported by private citizens.
When we remind ourselves of the focus of the nonprofit sector -- to fill the void where business has no incentive and the public has no demand -- then maybe cutting out the arts makes sense leaving the arts to be supported, and possibly only experienced, by those with resources.
But is it true that the public has no demand for the arts? Or is it more true that the arts' "voice" is just not loud enough compared to the sounds of the military industrial complex (in states it likely looks more like corporate tax breaks) and the harsh realities of poverty and housing crisis and, well you can make a list as well as I. Unfortunately, so far it looks like the voice just isn't loud enough.
Nonprofit art boards -- this is the time for all good folks to gather and demonstrate that everyone cares and loses a piece of themselves without the arts. Arts benefit everyone and that message better be made loud and clear or indeed -- only the "haves" will have the arts.