Why is the city of Philadelphia cutting its arts funding, when investment in the arts has returned major benefits? “Why, given all of the studies showing how much the arts contribute to a city and region’s health, have we not figured out how to fund the arts in a way that they don’t have to go begging every year for mere survival. Why is it that we can support transit, education, health and human services, recreation and other line items with the understanding that they are necessary to our existence, but still treat dance, music, theater and art as if they are luxury items – nice if you can find the money, but not essential?”