Art Subsidies Are Unjust and a Violation of Free Speech

In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège discuss Zohran Mamdani’s record $323 million culture budget for NYC aimed at supporting the arts, and why government attempts to fund artistic endeavors are unjust and ineffective in creating thriving conditions for artists.

Topics include:

• The Culture Budget’s Purpose
• The “Affordability Crisis”
• The Disdain for the Market
• The Effects of Subsidizing Art
• The Alternative to Subsidies

Resources:

• Ayn Rand, “What is Capitalism” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
• Ayn Rand, “To Dream the Non-Commercial Dream” in The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought

This episode was recorded on August 5, 2026.