Should opera houses receive public funds?/Should indie rock venues?

[Ban my account ffs!]

If either have some sort of unique or significant cultural value (such as having been in operation since 1820 but is now struggling due to some uncontrollable factor), or occupies a historical building, or is a particularly important part of that genre.. then yes.

If it's just a run of the mill Opera House (sounds kinda weird)/Indie rock venue, then no.

It should be taken on a case by case basis.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I'd go with the Minnesota model:  Levy a tax that funds arts programming.  Then allow people to apply for funding to help set up or run their venues if they need it.  Set guidelines for how that money is granted and put proper oversight in place and anti-corruption measures.

So far it has opened a lot of opportunities for Minnesotans to experience arts programming that they otherwise wouldn't and I think it operates as a "seed dispersal" program that allows people to try things and fail... but also give them a chance to thrive and become new institutions in their communities (which then provide most of the necessary funding for expansion).

Most of all it tells people in the arts that they aren't completely sh**t out of luck.