With cities littered with looming cathedrals and marble sculptures, and with shelves still faithful to classic works of literature and entertainment, the arts have proven to endure the test of time. For a long time these creations have provided an immortal testimony to humanity's achievements and a window into the past. Perhaps no other category of art lends itself more to a vision of the history of the fine arts, or the high arts, than tradition, with its pieces well preserved, guarded and carefully designed to withstand the battery of time. Works belonging to the fine arts tradition were historically kept alive through wealthy benefactors. However, economic classes began to level out and wealth was no longer limited to the few considered “elite.” Now, financial support for the fine arts is a decision that requires the input of many and then the decision becomes that of elected officials. With a decrease in private subsidies available, the government must step in to provide funding to the fine arts in an effort to reap the many benefits towards the economy, culture and society as a whole. Unlike works in the folk arts and folk art traditions, whose usefulness and prevalence make them easily marketable, the meaning behind works in the fine arts tradition is simply lost to time and therefore lacking current relevance. Works such as these, which have lost patronage due to changing economic classes, require funding from government organizations to stay afloat among a public that appreciates the latest in innovation (INART005). Once considered crucial entertainment and historical reference, private donors have driven down the cost of fine art. Their value as evidence of the primacy of a company was considered high. In some cases, the artwork is the… center of the paper… artists of the past who have made the effort to create lasting evidence of the existence of their cultures for future generations to see. Works Cited Bergheim, Laura A, and Kathleen Culver. “National Fund for the Arts”. Dictionary of American History 5.3 (2003): 535-536. Storm. Network. September 10, 2011.Brooks, Arthur C. “Who Opposes Government Funding for the Arts?” Public Choice 108 (2001): 355-357. JSTOR. Network. 10 September 2011.INART005 Performing arts. The College of Arts & Architecture at Pennsylvania State University, 2011. Web. April 7, 2011. National Endowment for the Arts. National Endowment for the Arts. Network. September 10, 2011.Radbourne, Jennifer. “Social intervention or market intervention? A problem for governments in promoting the value of the arts". International Journal of Arts Management 5.1 (2002): 50-61. Proquest Research Library: The Arts. Network. 10 September. 2011.