Feb. 10, 2009
Governer Tim Pawlenty
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Governer Pawlenty,
I am requesting that you reconsider the decision to cut State Arts Board funding from the budget. While art is often associated with “self expression” the broader thinking skills that come from creating and developing art are overlooked.
I spoke with a gentleman today that credited arts education for development of ‘out of the box’ thinking that is required in his role as an air traffic controller. Once employed as a designer for over 15 years, he is currently is employed at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport. He mentioned he is not the only one working in the control tower with this background.
I am a landscape architect and urban designer and have returned to my home in Minnesota after living in New York City the last 6 years. I love this State and will be working to make it greater. As an urban designer I design city spaces, create site grading and structures, all the time looking for connectivity in human and ecological environments. I credit the arts education I received early on as a necessary human tool which mediated language and built form.
I think you would find that many responsible adults in many fields have the arts as a part of their overall education. It is my firm belief that cutting the arts can only hinder the efforts to make this state a truly great place to live in. Considering that the funding is already a small portion of the overall budget I urge you to reconsider its reinstatement. It is our best tool to guarantee we get through this budget crisis and back on our feet.
Respectfully yours,
Joseph Maurer
Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota
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