There is a considerable debate going on around the country about who should be responsible for funding the very diverse activities that fall under the umbrella of the "arts". Some say that it is better to allow private groups and charitable organizations more leeway in this area, while others favor giving the federal government a greater role in this process. This helpful and intriguing 31-page paper in pdf format from the National Endowment for the Arts, first published in October 2004, offers some compelling insights into how various programs fund he arts throughout the country. Prepared by Professor Tyler Cowen of George Mason University, the report contains four chapters, which deal with such subjects as the nature of direct public support for the arts and so on. [KMG]