When the economy gets tough, it's easy to target programs that advocate and support the "frivolous"—be it the environment, the outdoors, or the arts. Yet as Minnesotans showed last year in voting for the Legacy Amendment—promising more tax money to support those things—life without them would be poorer indeed. The Arts Board sits at the front lines, supporting tons of worthy artists and organizations each year. That can take many forms, such as the recent statewide Poetry Out Loud competition, which ended with student finalists performing at the Fitzgerald Theater. In fact, a number of programs target school-age artists, including artist residencies. In a time when schools are cutting activities and arts courses left and right, the board, now under the direction of Sue Gens, provides a glimmer of hope—as long as it isn't another victim of budget-cutting, as the governor has threatened.