The arrival of the Obama administration has been accompanied by a surge of commentators suggesting that Obama and the Democratically-led Congress should seek to increase the federal role in arts funding.  A number, such as William Ferris in a recent New York times op-ed, have gone so far as to suggest either the creation of a “culture czar” or a cabinet-level post dedicated to the arts and culture.  Such entreaties are likely to go unmet, however, particularly in the face of stiff Republican opposition to spending on wasteful programs that expand the size and role of government.  [For a useful primer on the debate, see an Arts Journal piece about it here and a discussion on NPR here.]

Nevertheless, an increase in arts funding seems entirely likely.  Obama has on several occasions expressed an interest in great federal investment in the arts, releasing an arts policy platform early in his campaign, calling for the creation of an Artists Corp, and saying, “Our art, our culture [is] the essence of what makes America special, and we want to make as much of that as possible in the White House.”  Importantly, the stimulus bill recently passed by the House and now under consideration in the Senate includes a $50 million uptick in funding for the NEA, according to NPR.  The increase garners its support, in part, from a raft of studies showing that money spent on arts funding brings significant economic benefits to surrounding communities and to the country as a whole.

Another notable feature of the stimulus package is its emphasis on economic measures related to renewable energy and so-called green jobs.  According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the bill includes approximately $100 billion aimed at environmentally-related projects.  Their figure is likely optimistic, as some of those projects have only peripheral environmental benefits; but even adjusting for exaggeration, the figure is huge.  Some of those projects include:

• $3.4 billion for states for clean energy projects
• A grants program for renewable energy technologies covered by the renewable energy tax incentives
• $6.2 billion for weatherization of low income homes
• $3.5 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, supporting clean energy projects primarily at the city and county levels
• $2 billion for clean energy research & development
• $6 billion for increasing energy efficiency in federal buildings
• $12 billion for transit
• $2 billion for ready-to-go drinking water infrastructure projects
• $6 billion for ready-to-go sanitation infrastructure projects

As Van Jones, founder of Green for All and noted advocate for green-collar jobs, says at the Huffington Post, “Our present economy is based on consumption, debt and environmental destruction. The next U.S. economy should be based on production, smart savings and environmental restoration. You can’t have a stable economy based on unregulated greed at the top. But you can have one based on unleashing green, at the bottom.”

In this funding environment, it seems likely that any projects applying for federal funds, be they green projects or no, will be evaluated at least partly on the basis of their contribution to a new green economy, or, alternately, on their benefit to the environment or environmental education.

Theater and the arts will be no different.  It is too early to say whether the NEA will set up programs directly aimed at green arts projects; Obama has yet to appointed a new head to succeed departing chairman Dana Gioia, so the new department’s priorities have yet to be established.  However, it can be said with confidence that all arts projects will be evaluated in part on their ability to demonstrate a commitment to environmental education, to dealing with environmental themes and issues, or tangible footprint reduction.  Theaters coming forward with hands outstretched would best be prepared to demonstrate their green credentials.

This applies no less to the larger funding environment.  Corporations short on sponsoring money will look to theaters that are environmental leaders in their communities.  States that have established renewable energy targets (of which there are quite a few; even Sarah Palin recently announced that Alaska will aim to meet all of its power requirements from renewable sources by 2025) will look more kindly on theaters with solar panels or cogeneration units.  Cash-starved municipalities will want to be able to prove to disgruntled taxpayers that arts recipients care about their cities’ sustainable futures.

Moreover, as the list above shows, a big chunk of change in the stimulus package is earmarked for weatherization improvements that better insulate homes and businesses, thereby reducing their heating and cooling costs and, concomitantly, their greenhouse gas emissions.  A good deal of that will be headed toward low-income homes, but expect to see some of it going into government buildings and institutions that rely on government funding.  Theaters that position themselves correctly may well find themselves qualified to receive some of that money.

As the Green Theater Initiative is fond of repeating, going green presents the opportunity for theaters to not merely help ensure a sustainable planet for future generations, but, more importantly, to ensure a sustainable future for themselves.  This new emphasis on governmental funding directed toward green projects presents theaters with an opportunity to successfully reposition themselves in an uncertain economic environment.

Update, February 16: The New York Times reports today (here) that of the extra $50 million directed to the NEA in the stimulus bill — expected to be signed by President Obama today — 40% will be distributed to state arts agencies, and the remainder to grants for individual arts projects.  The article emphasizes that the money was included over conservative objections because arts advocates made a forceful case for the arts as an engine for jobs.  This argument only gains in potency, of course, if art institutions can demonstrate that they are contributing to the development of a new green economy.