"Simply put, arts and culture are the engines that drive business. Without the arts, businesses cannot thrive, neighborhoods decline and our quality of life is greatly diminished."

"Public support for the arts is important because governments should engage in activities that improve the quality of life in their communities, particularly by supporting things that the private market might not otherwise provide."

The DC Advocates for the Arts report District arts agency spending from 2009.

Should critics watch dances more than one time? One critic reflects on lessons from attending a recent rehearsal.

Patricia Spears Jones writes about D.C.'s recent 2010 Split This Rock poetry festival. Photos by Jill Brazel.

“Artist 'categories' are bandied about by artists, gallerists, jurors, and critics and most of the people using these terms seem to be clueless, when questioned, about what they actually mean."

DC Artist Prudence Bonds discusses the good and bad of being a self taught artist.

Curator Blair Murphy writes about the ways we work: Talk to ten different visual artists in the DC area and you're likely to hear about ten different working situations, from former auto body shops to corners of studio apartments.

"Archival policies for the field need to be developed, both to ensure preservation and performance of important works, and to encourage the necessary funding mechanisms."

"Why didn't you give my child anything to dance?" she hissed, "there was not one dance step in that role!"