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 Censorship > Art Art Art creatively embodies ideas and messages that are meant to challenge and provoke viewers to explore deeper meanings about culture and society. Because art museums are considered important cultural institutions, they often become the battlegrounds for debates on censorship. Different groups in communities feel they have a stake in how and what should be displayed, or not displayed, in a museum space. But what about freedom of expression for artists? Is there a line between artistic expression and art which may be offensive to some? What is appropriate in this public square where people of all ages have access? Should there be fairness and balance in how something is depicted or represented in art? Sometimes government officials become entangled in calls for art censorship and have threatened to cut funding for institutions with exhibits they find objectionable. Along with the actual content of the exhibit, this issue is often tied to politics as well. Funding pressure has sometimes led to a chilling effect on artistic expression and selection of art for museums. Museums with public funding tend to attract more scrutiny than those privately funded. The Supreme Court addressed the government funding for the arts issue in National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) v. Finley (1998). In 1990, Congress amended the NEA’s criteria for arts funding by requiring the group to consider "artistic excellence and artistic merit taking into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public." Karen Finley and three other artists challenged the amendment calling it discriminatory and unconstitutionally vague. The Court ruled 8-1 that this situation is not a direct government regulation of speech. Congress has the authority to set spending priorities that many indirectly affect certain forms of speech while not violating the First Amendment. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in the majority opinion that the NEA’s decision to fund an activity based on the public interest while excluding another, is not viewpoint discrimination. The process of selecting artists and art is already highly subjective, so the addition to the existing guidelines is not that large. Choosing to personally donate to an artist or art museum is an expression of First Amendment rights, just like with political campaigns or donating to a supported cause. Private donors may choose not to fund a specific exhibition or threaten to pull their support from a museum that is hosting artwork the donor disagrees with.
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