El Paso has the talent, but the gifted either go elsewhere to make a living or struggle here without hope of adequate recompense. It is disgraceful that our symphony orchestra is forced to go on strike rather than agree to perform fewer concerts and earn less than the present meager amount. Our good ballet company struggles to exist. Opera is popular at present, but hardly well-funded. As for theater, it has learned to expect little.
Actors work without pay, and often work well.
Small grants from the city's Arts Resources Department and the Huthsteiner Fine Arts Trust help pay rent and cost of scenery, but not the starving artists. Our problem is not discrimination, it is lack of help from those who could afford to give and will not. It was shameful that the Black El Paso Democrats didn't hold a candidates forum this year. The purpose of a forum is to inform people of the prevailing issues and make citizens aware of candidates and their positions. A forum was not held, yet the group issued a slate of endorsed candidates.