The European Commission has proposed to set up the largest art-support program in world history. If approved, the Creative Europe Project would funnel 1.8 billion Euros (about $2.3 billion) to arts organizations between 2014 and 2020.

The Art Newspaper reports that the money would go to visual and performing arts, film, music, literature and architecture projects. Supporters suggest it could benefit up to 300,000 artists.Critics fret that the project is likely to be so bogged down in European bureaucracy that little of the money would ever reach anyone truly creative. Others question whether arts support is an effective way to stimulate economic growth.