NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman*, on why the federal government needs to subsidize mimes:
“The marketplace shouldn’t be the sole determinant of what is allowed to flourish,” Landesman said, adding that the renowned San Francisco Mime Troupe would likely not be able to survive solely on ticket sales.
Given that the renowned San Francisco Mime Troupe – no, I’ve never heard of them, either – apparently also can’t survive solely on private philanthropy, perhaps the marketplace is merely giving here what we in the agitprop business call a subtle hint.
Via Ace of Spades HQ Headlines.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
*No, I’m not going to make fun of his name.
If you can’t cut funding for mimes, you can’t cut it for anything. I mean, it’s not like they’re going to complain.
Oh, those clowns (that’s what they are, they don’t actually mime) REALLY don’t need support. Check our their website: http://www.sfmt.org/index.php
If you dare to tread, they are (seriously) a *collective*, and have a bit of a grudge against the “rightwing” assault on their jobs, then and now:
“In the 1990’s, as touring subsidies disappeared under the Right Wing attack on the National Endowment for the Arts, we replaced one touring season with an annual Youth Theater Project: helping at-risk youth create and perform shows about their lives.”
If they can’t employ their members without Federal assistance, why not reorganize as volunteers, if the message is so important? If the message rather than the *money* is that important, that is.
Jeff, I’m sorry, it’s a good comment… but Rob wins.
But… a Mime is a terrible thing to waste, you know.
Looks like I’m gonna need to stock up on silencers…
By the way, did you notice the Easter Egg in Andrew Stiles’ piece?
I thought that I had, but I didn’t. Thanks, Murgatroyd.
@Skip: A mime is an *awesome* thing to waste. Ideally , in a spectacular fashion, pour encourager les autres.