themselves . I think the arts are going to be crucial in bringing people together , expressing a variety of points of view , and even providing solace for those who feel threatened . Certainly there is also a place for arts that seek to stimulate action , but more often the arts help to shape ways of thinking about important issues .
Are you personally worried about whether or not the arts will be affected ( less grants , more restrictions , censorship )? Ekstrand — I am going to persist in my belief that as Americans we have the will to resist any attempts at official restrictions or censorship . If funding were to be limited , we would find a way to keep doing what we do , but I truly hope that there will always be support for a multiplicity of voices .
Wallnau — The theatre and the arts community have always been a target for repression . Silence the artists and no one calls you on your crimes . The more you rely on government funding , the more tethered you are to the whims of a political class . I believe the Constitution that allows people to own automatic weapons and armor piercing bullets should also be strong enough to withstand the expected assault on free speech . I suspect we will see federal money dry up as the Luddites have taken over Washington . It is up to each of us to persevere in these trying times . As John Webster had a character say in his 17th century play , The Duchess Of Malfi , “ Blackbirds fatten best in hard weather , why not I in these dog days .”