In these current times, you can find all kinds of entertainment everywhere, especially like where you are looking right now, the internet. It’s easily accessed, free from commercials, and you don’t need to pay to watch it, but it really isn’t free. Nothing is free if you place value in art.

Now what is art? Well, I can’t answer that, but I do know that not all entertainment is art. See, you the viewer, the audience, the consumer, it’s up to you to decide. You can listen to other people’s opinions, read reviews, but ultimately up to you. Do you like it? Were you moved or amused? Did you connect with it? Did you get something out of it? Does it have a soul? Well, if the answer to most of these questions is yes, then more than likely it is art to you, not just entertainment, and art has value.

Art is made by the expense of the artist or artists. An artist is trying to connect, relate, express, communicate something with you. They are putting themselves into the medium, putting themselves in front of you and if you value what they made or what they are trying to say, then you value art.

If you value that art, you should support it. If you like it, show everyone you like it, be proud of your opinion, tell everyone you know what you like about it, share it with them. They will thank you for it. You can also tell the artist, give feedback on what you would like to see more of, what you didn’t like, support their vision, their art. Show your appreciation by buying a piece of work if they are selling it, because you value it.

Art will die if it isn’t supported. Sure there will be all kinds of entertainment, but not art. Not the kind of art you love, the kind you connect with, the kind you want to share with everyone, If you don’t express yourself, your own opinions, your own appreciation, that art will die.

Once you value art, it isn’t free entertainment to you.