Bill to aid Washtenaw arts programs

A bill to allow Washtenaw County residents the opportunity to vote on a millage for cultural funding will be up for vote in the House of Representatives this week.

The bill, introduced by Representative Kirk Profit (D-Ypsilanti) and passed by House committee last week, would help financially support cultural and recreational programs in Washtenaw county.

Profit said his proposal was based on similar bills enacted in Chicago, San Francisco and Detroit.

"It started as an effort to take care of major facilities such as the Detroit Institute of Art and the Detroit Zoo," Profit said.

Due to diminishing state and federal support for art programs, the millage proposal is needed to help maintain such facilities as the Michigan Theater, museums and parks, Profit said.

The bill will also help to "retain old business and attract new business and show the importance of the arts," said Barry LaRue, president of the Washtenaw Council for the Arts, adding that the House will most likely pass the bill.

LaRue said that as far back as Governor Milliken, funding for arts has been decreasing because of lack of support from the government.

Profit said that during last week's presentation in the House amendments to the bill were added eliminating the bill's reference to government screening of obscenity in the arts.

"Obscenity is something artists deal with," Profit said. "When the government acts as a censor, we have problems."

Music sophomore David Garcia said the proposed bill will benefit the county.

"It's a shame that government would cut back on artistic endeavors, because it is through the arts that a community shapes itself," Garcia said.

If Rep. Profit's bill is passed, voters in Washtenaw County would be able to vote on a millage by the year 2000.

Some of the funding would go towards the Washtenaw Council of the Arts and other arts programs such as the Ann Arbor Art Association, the Purple Rose Theater and the Michigan Theater.

When asked if he thought voters would approve the millage, Garcia said Ann Arbor residents were of the right artistic temperament.

"Ann Arbor is a very arts-oriented community," Garcia said.

06-01-98