Countywide : Panel Won’t Join Art Funding Debate

The Ventura County Arts Commission on Wednesday decided not to get involved in the debate over federal funding of controversial art projects.

Commissioner George Stuart had recommended that the commission urge the Board of Supervisors to protest congressional interference in the awarding of grants by the National Endowment for the Arts. Stuart has denounced Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), and others who have pressured the endowment to withhold funds from artists whose works are deemed obscene.

At last month’s commission meeting, Stuart was not allowed to present his views because his motion died for lack of a second.

On Wednesday, Commissioner Meredith McKenzie-Hussey seconded Stuart’s motion so the matter could be discussed, but she ended up voting against the proposal. Only Commissioner Javier Gomez supported Stuart’s proposal, which would have called on the supervisors to write a protest letter to the county’s congressional delegation.