Arts, Inc.: How Greed and Neglect Have Destroyed Our Cultural Rights

by Bill Ivey

In this impassioned and persuasive book, Bill Ivey, the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, assesses the current state of the arts in America and finds cause for alarm. Even as he celebrates our ever-emerging culture and the way it enriches our lives here at home while spreading the dream of democracy around the world, he points to a looming crisis. The expanding footprint of copyright, an unconstrained arts industry marketplace, and a government unwilling to engage culture as a serious arena for public policy have come together to undermine art, artistry, and cultural heritage—the expressive life of America. In eight succinct chapters, Ivey blends personal and professional memoir, policy analysis, and deeply held convictions to explore and define a coordinated vision for art, culture, and expression in American life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Music

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it begins rather dryly, this book is an important read. By chapter 5, it is hard to put down. We are in great need of well thought out and streamlined cultural policy in this country and a refocus of our arts and culture sector, both for- and non-profit.Bill Ivey lays the ground work for defending our cultural rights and establishing new systems to improve our quality of life. I believe this book will be one I read again and again and will serve as a guide as I do my part to support, defend, and improve our cultural rights and establish a respectable cultural policy.

[Pogfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A finely thought through enumeration of a set of strong personal tenets and a sound insight into the complex interplay of art in modern culture. Many valuable insights, but contains some conflicting notions and blindly prejudiced solutions. At once idealistic and incongruently realistic.
For example, I appreciated the emphasis on participation as a driving factor in rich national and local culture, opposed to mere consumption; but it seems at odds with Ivey's emphasis on cultural artifacts produced through a corporate lens (movies, records, television) over "authentic" and organic cultural product created by citizens. I struggled to distill a clear harmony in Ivey's simultaneous promotion of globalism (access to global cultural product), "community heritage," and individual autonomy; though they represent different levels of a fully integrated arts system, they seem to conflict in Ivey's philososphy. It also seemed at times that Ivey's multi-directional finger pointing revolved around some personal grudge or bias.
Art as a tool for cultural diplomacy and as a panacea to an omnipresent first world spiritual struggle were far more lucid and original and interesting arguments and I wish the book could have retained the tone of these chapters. I understand the frustration of proposing change in an arena ruled by glacial policy and obstinate oligarchies of lobbyists, but the helplessness of the demand for cultural rights is felt as a lugubrious undertone throughout.

[Allison Keilman · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this is one of those books that just confirms everything that I have believed for a long time - one of those books that has you saying "yes!" and "exactly!" out loud while reading. For those of us working or interested in arts management and/or public policy, this book should be mandatory reading. Bill Ivey builds a convincing case for government engagement with arts and culture, for the creation of a cultural minister in the U.S., and for a comprehensive "bill of cultural rights." Always anecdotal and interesting, Ivey never lets the topic become stale. As it was published in 2008, the book is a bit outdated by now - I would love to see a second edition or follow up book. But still, entirely relevant and incredibly important. I wish we could get this book in front of every congressman.

[Rob Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating non-fiction account of how American is losing its hold on our cultural heritage - Bill uses tons of anecdotes and stories to illustrate what could be a somewhat dry subject. Highly recommended.

[Jeanie]

Al Head suggested that we read Art, Inc., in preparation for being with the author Bill Ivey at the Arts Leadership Retreat. This is an important, but heady, policy book. It's great to be reading something that stretche the mind instead of just numbing or entertaining it.

[Larry-bob Roberts]

Author is part of Obama's NEA/NEH Review Team and was NEA chair under Clinton.

[Ruth Ann]

Heard Bill Ivey speak on this topic recently and was very impressed with his perspective.

[Gospodyina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suuuper dry.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had good points, but some of his anecdotes were long and less important to the points he was trying to make. And that conclusion was too damn long!