It depends on the condition of the society.
I believe public services are much more important to invest in due to the greater impact they cause to society, especially in third-world countries. Some of the public services hold a crucial role in aiding those in need, specifically the poor. Meanwhile the arts, being secondary (if not tertiary) needs, might only bring a much lesser impact because only a specific subset of the population will be able to enjoy them.
Public services such as health care, education, and transportation are important for many people. Good health care could provide a decent treatment for diseases and improves life expectancy of the people, proper education escalates human quality, and great public transportation reduces pollution (and also traffic jam). These are some examples of how great public services could impact society.
In conclusion, public services contribute a lot to societal welfare, improving the living standard, and bringing a better life to future generations. These aspects should be more prioritized before other secondary needs. Only by fulfilling these can investing more in the arts be justified.
