Band 6+: Some people think the government funding should not be used for supporting art and culture, while others think supporting cultural activities may be beneficial for the population and the culture. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

It is an issue of controversy whether government should allocate national budget for art and culture. While I contend that government’s investment in other fields is of necessity, I endorse an opinion that the magnitude of government expenditure on art and culture is of greater significance.

On the one hand, government spending should take other sectors into account. First, there is little room for doubt that investing in educational infrastructure in poverty-stricken areas should be considered. It is due to the fact that children in these areas have little chance to get exposed to technological appliances and Internet connection, which acted as an impediment to their acquisition of knowledge. Therefore, by dint of having educational aids, children can stand a chance of getting access to higher education, followed by changing their life for the better. Moreover, government expenditure on environmental protection is of paramount importance. As climate change, global warming induce manifold pitfalls, government consciousness about environmental maintenance can partly minimize impacts of environmental threats on human life and well-being.

On the other hand, it is advisable to allocate a national budget for art and culture. To commence with, it is transparent that some art and culture are in the form of historical sites, in which residents can derive several occupational opportunities from them. For example, inhabitants in surrounding areas sell souvenir items or provide service for tourists in order to cover their living expenses. As a result, art and culture is deemed to guarantee resident’s livelihood and boost national prosperity. Furthermore, government spending on art and culture plays a significant role in the maintenance of cultural values. The reason is that some traditional arts forms such as handicraft, silk weaving, making pottery are on the verge of extinction. Hence, government subsidies in these fields can cultivate resident’s appreciation about art and culture, attaching more importance to traditional values.

In conclusion, although government should spending on educational quality and environmental conservation, I firmly believe that allocating national budget for art and culture could bring numerous perks.