In the olden days, artists had to have a patron, a Burgher, a Pope, a King, a nobleman, someone of the moneyed class during the artist's lifetime to support them.

They had to do pictures of ugly wives and daughters, paint ceilings, frescoes, whatever the person with the money wanted.  If they couldn't find someone like that, some of them  painted pictures for chickens or other food or lodging. 

The King or the Pope might require the subjects or parishioners to pay higher taxes to satisfy the King or the Pope's ego, but I see no reason to continue that ancient and now out-of-style tradition.

The city is not entitled to 'donate' tax dollars to support your hobby.  

And if no one wants to buy your 'art' and you have to take tax money away from Eugene citizens to support yourself, it is just a 'hobby'.