BOISE – Idahoans have been bombarded with news of funding cuts and debt that reaches into the millions.

But, when the state is taking money from some places they are still dishing it out. Over $10,000 in taxpayer money is given to the Idaho Commission on the Arts. The money is the distributed to art organizations throughout Idaho.

In Boise, Big Tree Arts receives over $3,000 and what they do with it has been scrutinized in a recent report on government spending, but for others art is everything.

"We are about maintaining a civilization, and without arts we don't have a civilization we have tight jeans contest," said Jay Vail of Boise, a supporter of sate funding for the arts.

A tight jeans contest might be offensive to some; others may find local poetry slams put on by Big Tree Arts equally disturbing.

Many poets talk about all things sex and to some it’s considered vulgar and something Wayne Hoffman, Executive Director for Idaho Freedom Foundation thinks doesn’t deserve government funding.

"We are providing a forum for art that is obscene by a lot of standards," Hoffman said.

Previously Cheryl Maddalena, President for Big Tree Arts told the Idaho Press Tribune that the grant is used to “pay for venues, advertising and operations.” However, when 2 News spoke with Isaacc Grambo, the event manager for Big Tree Arts, he said that’s not the case.

"That is untrue either she was misquoted or she misspoke," Grambo said.

Grambo explained the grant money is actually used for educational outreach and workshops. That’s something Michael Fisian with the Idaho Commission on the Arts backs up.

"Our money didn't go to people involved in the slams," Fisian said.

Perhaps not directly, but Grambo said when they have a slam there is a workshop before hand and a poet is paid with government money to put on the workshop. Then they perform at the slam.

Grambo says the commission cash pays about $100 for the poet to put on the workshop. No taxpayer money goes toward the performance or the poets travel expenses.

"For the people who enjoy it's definitely what they want to see, it's sort of them seeing their own frustrations and own ideas displayed," Grambo said.

So while this art form may or may not be for you, Hoffman says the bottom line is that you are paying for it.

Hoffman also feels this brings up a bigger question. “When $27 million is cut from education in Idaho, should arts get funding at all?” Art advocates say it’s freedom of expression and speech, whether everyone agrees with it or not.