The National Endowment for the Arts want to fundraise privately, but one of New York’s most important arts advocates – Norma Munn Chair of the New York City Arts Coalition – is strongly opposed. “As a matter of principle, I’m opposed to government using fundraising in the private sector to supplement an agency budget at the city, state, or federal level. It means they’re competing directly with not-for-profits for precisely the same funds; and their clout and ability to publicize their efforts is a lot greater than other arts groups. It’s a substitute for public funds and a move for privatization of funding that isn’t appropriate.”