Sen. Farnese Attends Protest Against Arts and Cultural Tax
Performing artists, filmmakers, fine artists and others rallied in opposition to state budget plan to tax ticket sales to live theatre, museums, live concert performances and more

Philadelphia, October 2, 2009 — Senator Farnese attended a noontime rally Friday, outside Philadelphia City Hall to support the arts community. 150 or so people gathered at Dilworth Plaza to protest a proposal in a state budget agreement to tax ticket sales to cultural events and venues such as museums, live shows, and zoos. Arts and cultural groups have been urging state lawmakers to eliminate the tax from the budget.

During the rally, Sen. Farnese encouraged the groups to continue their activism, promising to do what he could, along with fellow members of the Philadelphia Senate Delegation, to toss the tax from the budget.

“I think we should restore significant funding to arts and culture and/or get rid of this tax altogether,” he said.

He added the arts was just one exemption among a menu of at least 30 other tax exemptions, yet, the senator said, “Senate Republican leaders chose to tax arts and culture” over other items on the list. He told the crowd it’s not yet too late to consider other options.

“There are other exemptions we could choose like smokeless tobacco,” the senator suggested.

He added that taxing the cost of admissions to live shows and other artistic and cultural events would have a negative impact on the industry as well as surrounding businesses.

“It would drastically affect businesses near cultural institutions, if attendance to zoos, museums and live theater were to drop as a result of families being unable to afford the extra charge. There has to be another way to raise revenue for the commonwealth besides taxing the arts.”

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