Arts vs health spending: أفكار لمقال IELTS

Some people think governments should use tax money to support art, music and museums, while others believe it should go to health and education. In my opinion, essential services deserve priority, though culture should not be neglected.

Supporters of arts funding point out their value. Museums, orchestras and galleries preserve a nation's heritage and give citizens opportunities to enjoy and learn from creative work. Culture strengthens national identity and attracts tourists, which brings income to local businesses; the museums of Paris and London draw millions of visitors each year. Public support also keeps these institutions accessible, so that not only the rich can enjoy them, and it supports artists who might otherwise be unable to make a living.

However, health and education address basic needs on which everything else depends. A person who cannot get medical treatment may die or become unable to work, and no amount of culture can compensate for this. Hospitals, doctors and medicines are expensive, and public funding is the only way to ensure that poorer people can receive treatment. Education is equally fundamental. It gives young people the skills to find employment, raises the productivity of the economy and reduces poverty and crime in the long term. Where budgets are limited, as in most countries, it is difficult to justify spending on a new concert hall when classrooms are overcrowded or patients wait months for operations.

This does not mean that the arts should receive nothing. Governments can provide modest support and encourage private donations, sponsorship and ticket sales to cover the rest, while making sure that schools include art and music as part of education.

In conclusion, culture enriches society, but health and education are essential and should receive the larger share of public money. I therefore support giving them priority.