My National Endowment for the Arts story

I thought I would make this whole NEA thing personal.

When I graduated from college in 1981, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was under attack by the new president, Ronald Reagan, an actor. It was saved from the cutting block because friends of the president convinced the administration that the NEA actually provided "benefits". Click Wikipedia link.

I majored in Economics in college and did a lot of theatre both on- and behind- stage. After graduation, I wanted to work as an administrator in a regional or major theater. Because of the threats to the NEA. no theater in the country was hiring. I still have the stack of rejection letters.

The economy was in desperate conditions in 1981. The mortgage interest rate was in double digits. Finding any job was difficult. I did eventually get hired as a Washington, DC congressional and legislative liaison for a Midwest manufacturing company.

Less than five years into my "career" as a congressional/legislative liaison I started working part-time at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. I worked both for manufacturer and Arena Stage jobs for a period of time until Arena was willing and able to hire me for full time.

That was the start of my career in theater. By then the NEA was back on solid footing and theaters were expanding and hiring once again. Because of funding from the NEA and associated state and city arts organization, I had a very successful career as a theatrical stage manager. Theaters were creating companies of actors and designers.

Guthrie Theater 1987

I eventually made it to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis where I still live and OWN A HOME that I purchased while working at the Guthrie. Because the NEA is funded, many artists I know are making a living, buying homes and raising families.

The NEA that lead to my success was not elitist...was not wasteful.