IELTS Speaking Part 3: Should Governments Fund the Arts?

We've been talking about a piece of art you like.

我們剛剛談到一件你喜歡的藝術作品。

Now I'd like to ask you some broader questions.

現在我想問你一些比較廣泛的問題。

Of course, I'd be glad to.

當然，很樂意。

Should governments spend public money on the arts?

政府應該把公共經費花在藝術上嗎？

I believe they should, within reason.

我認為應該，但要在合理的範圍內。

The arts give a country its identity and its voice.

藝術賦予一個國家認同感和自己的聲音。

Theatres and museums rarely survive on ticket sales alone.

劇院和博物館很少能只靠門票收入撐下去。

Without support, only the wealthy could enjoy culture.

沒有補助的話，就只有有錢人才能享受文化。

But isn't healthcare a more urgent priority?

但醫療不是更迫切的優先事項嗎？

To be fair, that's a reasonable objection.

平心而論，這是很合理的質疑。

The real issue is balance, not either-or.

真正的問題在於平衡，而不是二選一。

Arts funding is a tiny fraction of most budgets.

藝術經費在大多數預算裡只佔很小的一部分。

And it pays for itself through tourism and jobs!

而且它能透過觀光和就業把錢賺回來！

So you'd fund a sculpture of a giant banana?

那你會出錢做一座巨型香蕉雕塑嗎？

Ha, maybe not that one! But taste shouldn't be the test.

哈，那個可能就免了！但品味不該是評斷的標準。

Should artists have complete creative freedom then?

那麼藝術家應該擁有完全的創作自由嗎？

Yes, otherwise it becomes propaganda, not art.

是的，不然那就變成宣傳，而不是藝術了。

How important is art education for children?

藝術教育對孩子有多重要？

Hugely important, and sadly it's often the first thing cut!

非常重要，可惜它往往是最先被砍掉的！

Art teaches children to experiment and tolerate failure.

藝術教孩子勇於嘗試，也教他們接受失敗。

My little brother found his confidence in a school choir.

我弟弟就是在學校合唱團裡找到了自信。

Can private sponsors replace government funding?

民間贊助能取代政府補助嗎？

Partly, but sponsorship is a double-edged sword.

能取代一部分，但贊助是一把雙面刃。

Companies tend to back safe, popular projects only.

企業往往只願意支持穩當、受歡迎的案子。

Risky, experimental work still needs public money.

有風險的實驗性作品仍然需要公共經費。

Will people value the arts more in the future?

未來人們會更重視藝術嗎？

I think so, especially as automation takes over routine jobs.

我想會的，尤其是當自動化接手例行工作之後。

Creativity may become our most valuable skill!

創造力可能會成為我們最寶貴的技能！

Thank you. That's the end of the speaking test.

謝謝。口說測驗到這裡結束。

Oh, already? That went so quickly!

喔，已經結束了？時間過得真快！

It did. Thank you for your thoughtful answers.

是啊。謝謝你用心的回答。

Thank you! Have a lovely afternoon.

謝謝！祝您下午愉快。