As the state of Pennsylvania scrambles to find new sources of revenue to balance the state budget, a proposed arts tax has come into play. The proposed arts tax would add an additional 8 percent to the cost of tickets for museums, plays, zoos and historical parks in Philadelphia and 6 percent for the rest of the state. The events that are exempt from the proposed tax hike would be movie tickets and sporting events.
“It’s ironic that [the arts will have] a higher tax than major-league sports,” said Todd Holtsberry, a member of the Secret Room Theatre and the Philadelphia Dramatists Center. “Their players seem to get paid a lot more money.”
State Senator Larry Farnese, (D., Phila.) and Senator Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery) both attended the rally in opposition to the arts tax.
Approximately 200 supporters opposing the higher taxation on the arts rallied on the Avenue of the Arts on Friday waving signs and yelling, “Save Our Arts!”
Young and old, students and professionals and members of the art community came to show their support.
The rally made their way throughout the theatre area and went up to City Hall.