INDIANAPOLIS -
With only four days until Indianapolis voters choose a mayor, Eyewitness News continues to show you where the candidates stand on the issues.
Friday, we found out what Republican Mayor Greg Ballard, Democrat Melina Kennedy and Libertarian Chris Bowen have to say about city funding for the arts.
Over the years, the city has spent more than a billion dollars building and operating stadiums for the Colts and Pacers. City officials have long defended the use of taxpayer money saying the for-profit teams contribute millions to the local economy.
But what about the city's not-for-profit arts organizations?
A 2007 study showed they generate close to a half-billion dollars a year in economic impact. Yet this year, more than 52 arts organizations will divvy up just $1.3 million from the city.
Eyewitness News asked the candidates what role the city should play in funding the arts and how they'd set the stage over the next four years.
Libertarian Chris Bowen wasn't sure where the money would come from, but he said the arts deserve more help from the city.
"Yes, I do believe in that, because the arts and education gave way to the Renaissance and that got Europe out of the dark ages and I think we're going through a hard time here and, in the end, we'd like to retain our humanity," Bowen said.
Ballard says even though funding went down on his watch, he's committed to finding more money.
"What's most important is that we have skin in the game, so that large players come into play. We're looking at long-term funding mechanism for them outside property taxes, we've been trying for a couple of years. We're tight with the arts council, we're trying to find a revenue stream, if you will, so we can take it off the table at budget time," Ballard said.
Kennedy says the city needs to make funding the arts a priority.
"I'd like to see the arts supported at a level they were ten years ago. It's at an all-time low right now and you do that by prioritizing. If we can find $30 million for the Pacers, surely some of those dollars could be used to support the arts,"
It's an issue arts advocates aren't about to drop the curtain on.
City funding of the arts was highest under Former Mayor Bart Peterson, with $2.6 million a year going to various arts groups.
