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:

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.

1. Write to your Members of Congress
2. Send a letter to the editor of your local media

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

Elect Pro-Art Candidates

The advocacy group Americans for the Arts has identified seven key races across the country that could have a positive impact on the arts. Check out their list complete with supporting statements, then elect one of these candidates if he or she is yours!

http://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox/11d45431b67577f1

Here is a list of all the candidates the Arts Action Fund has contributed to across the country. Let's get our country moving ahead in teaching creativity and supporting American innovation once again.

http://www.artsactionfund.org/pdf/special_reports/2008/pac_contributions08.pdf