As the founder of a technology company headquartered in Loudoun County, I’m surprised that the county lacks a community arts center in the densely populated area of eastern Loudoun County. I remember asking a friend back in 2006 this very question.

The county approved $21.2 million in its 2023 budget for sports, parks and recreation while only a tiny fraction goes to the arts — there’s no line item for the arts in the budget. Some officials seem to view county residents as one-dimensional, thinking that families who want sports fields and rec centers for their kids aren’t also interested in having visual and performing arts activities available in a high-quality arts center.