Art tax: Positive impact is coming, just wait

Re: “Tacoma art tax shows misplaced priorities,” (TNT letter, 1/1).

Will ukulele lessons solve all our community’s challenges? No. Might they change a child’s life? They might. What if that number is 100 children, or 1,000, or more?

What is the impact on a community when children have opportunities to experience and participate in the arts? When marginalized people of all ages and backgrounds have such opportunities? When new stories are told and more people feel valued and respected? When hearts are opened a bit by a poem, a song, a dance, a story, a painting, a festival, or some other creative enterprise?

Aside from the fact that the arts generate jobs and revenue, they also build community, give creativity a chance to flourish - and when creativity is flourishing, look out! The benefits are multiple and on many levels.

I, for one, am thrilled Tacoma took this step. I can’t wait to see the positive impact this small tax makes in the coming year and in years to come.

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Art tax: Positive impact is coming, just wait."