A perennially grumpy loser of the election greeted me with a comment that got me thinking: since he believes the Economic Recovery Plan was filled with pork for just about everybody and anything, I'd probably get some of that wasteful $5o million earmarked for the arts. Well yes, I would like that! Could "trickle down" economics finally work for me?
Let me assure you that the arts organizations give a lot of bang for their bucks. They are expert at squeezing as much worth as they can from what they're given -- trying to touch as many lives as possible. Artists and the creative community do with very little, but give far more in return.
I am most fortunate to work part-time for an arts organization solely funded by grant monies from foundations and individuals who believe that arts education in the schools is a fundamental necessity. I work alongside all the teachers at a school, teaching hundreds of students -- putting in the same school day, arrive an hour ahead for prep and stay an hour or more afterward to clean up, commute 30 miles, have a master's degree in education -- yet I do not receive a salary that covers my rent, pay a whopping self-employment tax, receive no benefits, retirement, or health insurance. Even so, I love sharing with students how to use their creative skills that will ultimately lead to a successful work experience for them.
Yep, I'd like a slice of that stimulus package to be able to continue stimulating all those little minds.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
New President - New Hope for the Arts
It looks as if there's going to be a $50 million arts appropriation in Obama's "recovery" plan! The arts community is so used to being shunted, that this recognition seems downright shocking. For us? Not just crumbs?
Music producer Quincy Jones has been spearheading a campaign to urge President Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts or Culture within his administration (this is just one of the recommendations put forward in the Arts Policy in the New Administration ). You can see Jones discuss the need for this position in an interview from last December and sign the online petition to show your support.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Proposals to Congress to Save the Arts
Last week, Americans for the Arts officially proposed Nine Recommendations for Economic Recovery & the Arts to Congress to help nonprofit and governmental arts groups as well as individual artists during this economic downturn. Today, Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob Lynch met with the Obama Transition Team to discuss these and other ideas.
These are the proposals:
These are the proposals:
| Americans for the Arts Recommendations | House of Representatives Proposal |
| Include artists in the proposal for Unemployment & Healthcare Benefits for Part-Time Employees | Proposes to extend unemployment insurance coverage for low-wage, part-time, and other jobless workers |
| Boost arts projects in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) | $1 billion in additional funding for CDBG |
| Provide economic recovery support to the National Endowment for the Arts to be administered by local arts agencies | $50 million in additional appropriations for the National Endowment for the Arts |
| Include cultural planning through Economic Development Administration program (Department of Commerce) | $250 million for Economic Development Assistance |
| Increase community cultural facilities support in Rural Development Program (Department of Agriculture) | $200 million for critical rural community facilities |
| Provide more support for arts projects in Transportation Enhancements (Department of Transportation) | $31 billion to modernize federal and other public infrastructure |
| Fulfill the Obama pledge for an “Artist Corps” | $200 million to put approximately 16,000 additional AmeriCorps members to work doing national service |
| Make Human Capital Investments in Arts Job Training (U.S. Department of Labor) | $5 billion for working training and employment services |
Take Action
The Senate and the White House will likely unveil additional versions of an economic recovery package. We are calling on arts advocates to contact your House and Senate members and your local media to raise the profile of why it’s important to ensure there is support for the nonprofit arts sector in the federal economic recovery plan.
Monday, January 12, 2009
March on Washington, D.C. in March
Okay, I realize Obama's inauguration is still a week away, and here I am advertising the Arts Advocacy Day planned for March 31. If you aren't one of the lucky millions heading to the capital on January 20, then go when it's less crowded! Arts Advocacy Day will be important, and you'll actually get to meet some Washington, D.C. bigwigs. You'll be able to get a hotel room, too!
Now, the idea is to visit your congressional members and push for funding for the arts and art education. An army of support is needed to peg every single one of them. There will even be a "Lobbying 101" workshop to attend on March 30 to make sure everybody is effectively engaging their state's delegation.
Sound fun? Sound important? That's why I'm telling you now so you can make your travel arrangements. It'll be spring break, so don't wait until the last minute.
Check out the details here:
http://www.artsusa.org/events/2009/aad/default.asp
Now, the idea is to visit your congressional members and push for funding for the arts and art education. An army of support is needed to peg every single one of them. There will even be a "Lobbying 101" workshop to attend on March 30 to make sure everybody is effectively engaging their state's delegation.
Sound fun? Sound important? That's why I'm telling you now so you can make your travel arrangements. It'll be spring break, so don't wait until the last minute.
Check out the details here:
http://www.artsusa.org/events/2009/aad/default.asp
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Power of One
A New Year's resolution for all of you art education supporters would be to do something tangible to save or support our favorite topic at this blog. Now! You can make a financial donation to your favorite arts organization, even sign a petition of outrage over LAUSD's freezing of art funds and art teacher salaries in December until our governor signs a budget (which a month later has still not happened!). Or you can do as Spike Dolomite Ward has done, and go out and secure grant money and give it back to your school to maintain any shred of an art program it has left.
I first heard of Spike in a chance comment made by one of my favorite local NPR commentators, Sandra Tsing Loh. She happened to mention that Spike was busy trying to save art in San Fernando Valley public schools. Whoa! I wanted to meet this woman, and through a variety of twists and turns found her in a closet-sized office in Canoga Park distributing funds she'd raised herself to a couple hundred schools!!!
Spike started off like a lot of moms of little kids entering LA public schools -- she was totally shocked to discover that her kindergarteners' school did not have an art program. And this in the most creative city anywhere, where there are great-paying jobs for those trained in the arts. Being an artist, Spike volunteered in her son's classroom...which spilled over to other classrooms. You know how volunteers are when they're passionate about something. They give!
After a couple of years, Spike found herself making a promise to the school principal -- she'd fund an art program the next year. Spike had been paying for her own supplies when she taught her own classes. Now she'd really put herself on the line. What a daunting prospect: where was she going to get the money for every class, and an art teacher?? She needed at least $14,000 she figured, and it wasn't coming from her grocery money.
Operating out of her garage at first, she did it! In fact, after nine years, she's secured support from something like 30 organizations and foundations. And you have to realize, she's doing this for other peoples' kids. She gives the money for cultural field trips, music lessons, and art supplies free to 200 schools. She funds full-time programs at five elementary schools for students who would not have access to any of it. We're talking about an individual school program that costs around $100,000 a year. All given free!
Don't you think your PTA could at least do that for the children of your own school?
There are another 195 elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley waiting for an art program.
If Spike Dolomite Ward thinks it can be done, then why not join her? A contribution to her arts organization would be an outstanding New Year's art resolution, don't you think? "Arts In Education Aid Council" says it all. I promise the money goes to a good cause. I should know, I now teach in one of the schools Spike supports. You could supply paint and paper and tangibly touch a child's soul.
Here's your New Year's good deed: read all about www.aieac.org and make a donation.
And if you want to help urge the Los Angeles school board to rescue what little is left of the arts programs in LAUSD schools, here's that link. Sign the petition right now. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/restore-funding-for-lausds-arts-partners
I first heard of Spike in a chance comment made by one of my favorite local NPR commentators, Sandra Tsing Loh. She happened to mention that Spike was busy trying to save art in San Fernando Valley public schools. Whoa! I wanted to meet this woman, and through a variety of twists and turns found her in a closet-sized office in Canoga Park distributing funds she'd raised herself to a couple hundred schools!!!
Spike started off like a lot of moms of little kids entering LA public schools -- she was totally shocked to discover that her kindergarteners' school did not have an art program. And this in the most creative city anywhere, where there are great-paying jobs for those trained in the arts. Being an artist, Spike volunteered in her son's classroom...which spilled over to other classrooms. You know how volunteers are when they're passionate about something. They give!
After a couple of years, Spike found herself making a promise to the school principal -- she'd fund an art program the next year. Spike had been paying for her own supplies when she taught her own classes. Now she'd really put herself on the line. What a daunting prospect: where was she going to get the money for every class, and an art teacher?? She needed at least $14,000 she figured, and it wasn't coming from her grocery money.
Operating out of her garage at first, she did it! In fact, after nine years, she's secured support from something like 30 organizations and foundations. And you have to realize, she's doing this for other peoples' kids. She gives the money for cultural field trips, music lessons, and art supplies free to 200 schools. She funds full-time programs at five elementary schools for students who would not have access to any of it. We're talking about an individual school program that costs around $100,000 a year. All given free!
Don't you think your PTA could at least do that for the children of your own school?
There are another 195 elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley waiting for an art program.
If Spike Dolomite Ward thinks it can be done, then why not join her? A contribution to her arts organization would be an outstanding New Year's art resolution, don't you think? "Arts In Education Aid Council" says it all. I promise the money goes to a good cause. I should know, I now teach in one of the schools Spike supports. You could supply paint and paper and tangibly touch a child's soul.
Here's your New Year's good deed: read all about www.aieac.org and make a donation.
And if you want to help urge the Los Angeles school board to rescue what little is left of the arts programs in LAUSD schools, here's that link. Sign the petition right now. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/restore-funding-for-lausds-arts-partners
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