There is a peculiar dance of power between the museums, the foundations, the collectors and the curators. The power the artists muster is that power to be contrary. Without that contrariness, they would not pass as artists. Herb's contrariness is exactly what the art field needs. He has been a hero at the Whitney Museum, the Kitchen, the Wexner Museum and many other bastians of art power because of his integrity.
Integrity is necessary to art.
The NEA cannot exist without peer panels, and peer panels which have a certain degree of integrity to them. Therefore there is consternation over the NEA and the right wing correctly reads the peer decisions as insurrection. With peer panels, you will have controversy and insurrection. But without peer panels, the whole idea of arts funding loses legitimacy. Without insurrection there is no art.