Should Government Fund the Arts

On the one hand I like the idea of the Government putting out some money to fund artistic endeavors. There is never enough money for art and music programs in schools, and the arts are the first things to get cut when money gets tight. Also, having communities involved in the arts brings a feeling of well-being. Art makes people think and feel, and when communities have a good relationship with art, the community feels cultured and cosmopolitain. All of this is reason for the government to fund the arts. However, I also feel like there is a slippery slope when it comes to government giving their money for things. There is a chance, and a good one, that when the government puts up the money, then they want control over what is done with it, which could lead to heavy government censorship. This is bad for private artists. I think the government should fund the arts in schools and keep those programs alive, and if there is funding for other artisitic endeavors, then the government should not censor or inhibit the work in any way.