I care a lot about this subject.  During my school days, our town was the beneficiary of a thriving arts and music culture that was fostered through the schools.  I would prefer to see funding from the NEA to go toward improving this aspect of life.  I don't care so much if NEA is supporting adult artists in any direct fashion.  By nature, NEA support for actual artists has to have some sort of political filter.  Big grants going to the likes of Karen Finley are obviously going to raise hackles about misuse of tax money and will ultimately reduce political support for the NEA. 

The town I grew up in produced enough players (even with only 14,000 residents) that it today maintains its own symphony orchestra.  The players volunteer, but there is a budget a full year concert season, and a paid conductor.  This is but one small example of the cultural and community-building payoff that can come from a small but intelligent government investment in people.