The U.S. used to in fact commingle the social safety net with creative goals during the WPA era. There would be funding provided to employ artists, musicians, writers, actors, stage hands, etc. I think this is one of the many great ideas from the progressive era that could use reinstatement today. What a shame so many of our excellent social programs were cut during WWII as we shifted to a centrally planned war economy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration#...