Published: Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 3:52 PM Updated: Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 3:54 PM

By David Stabler, The Oregonian

Dan Wieden, founder of Portland’s Wieden+Kennedy advertising agency (see Nike, etc.), considers the arts central to people’s lives and to any creative, engaged business. Which is why he supports the Portland arts tax that will appear on the ballot in November.

“I think it’s a fabulous idea,” he said during a lengthy interview, Tuesday.

Voters will decide if wage-earners in Multnomah County should pay $35 a year. A little more than half the $12 million estimated revenue will fund arts teachers and the rest will support the day-to-day operations of 42 arts organizations.

“When you say art doesn’t matter, you’re full of (it),” said Wieden, who is well-known for encouraging creativity at his agency. “It drives me nuts. It’s complete blindness to how the world works.”

Einstein was incredibly creative,

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