House considering deeper cuts to NEA

from Citizens for the Arts in PA:

Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to H.R. 1, the appropriations continuing resolution, which severely reduces current year funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The vote added an additional $20.5 million cut on top of an already underlying $22.5 million reduction. If the U.S. House completes its work on this appropriations legislation today, the NEA's FY 2011 budget will have been reduced from $167.5 million to $124.5 million - a cut of 26% and the deepest cut to the NEA in 16 years.

Citizens for the Arts and Americans for the Arts is asking that you do the following:

Congress will begin a 10-day recess on February 18. When they return, the U.S. Senate will begin consideration of their own version of the FY 2011 funding legislation as early as February 28. While members of Congress are back home in their districts, we encourage you to inform your local media about the devastating impact the House appropriations bill would have on the arts in your community. Americans for the Arts has set up a Media Alert through their E-Advocacy Center to help you quickly and efficiently send your opinions to the local radio, TV, and newspaper stations in your area. They've already matched up the media contacts for you based on your zip code. You just need to customize the article's talking points and hit send.

We need the Senate to reverse the potentially devastating effects that could be caused on the arts that the FY 2011 appropriations bill passed by the House today. The customizable Media Alert is a fast and easy way to communicate your support for the NEA to local media outlets and help show your U.S. Senators why the NEA is an important grant-making agency in your state.

Please use this next week to write letters to the editor or op-ed pieces about this devastating cut. Don't stop with your letter - ask board members, friends and family to do the same.

Further NEA Cuts Proposed

from Citizens for the Arts in PA:

We've just learned that two members of Congress have introduced amendments to further cut, and terminate, funding from the National Endowment for the Arts during consideration of the FY 2011 appropriations measure. Your member in the U.S. House, Rep. Charlie Dent, a key GOP member with a solid record of support for the arts, has voted against amendments like this previously, and we hope you will urge another “No” vote.

As you may recall from our E-Alerts last week, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering major cuts to federal programs this week. In the bill they're considering, the NEA will be reduced from $167.5 million to $145 million. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) has introduced an amendment to further cut that amount by $20.5 milllion from the NEA budget. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) has introduced an amendment to terminate funding to the NEA immediately in this fiscal year. Both amendments are in line to be considered this week.

PLEASE take two minutes right now to contact Rep. Charlie Dent and request a voteagainst those amendments -- you can use our customized E-Advocacy Center to send that message.

Please spread this message to other arts advocates in your congressional district. Thank you for your arts advocacy!

Help us continue this important work by becoming an official member of the Arts Action Fund. If you are not already a member play your part by joining the Arts Action Fund today--it's free and simple.

deeper cuts to arts funding

Since we sent you the alert last night about the funding cuts being proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) the situation has worsened. Overnight, the House Appropriations Committee made even deeper cuts to the NEA and dozens of other programs and agencies. The proposed cut to the NEA is now set at $22.5 million (yesterday it was $12 million) which would represent the largest cut to that agency in 16 years.

A key paragraph in today’s Washington Post story covering these budget cuts explains what is happening: The Republican Study Committee, “Its ranks swollen with enthusiastic freshman who have never taken calls from constituents angry about loss of a favored program…threatened to oppose the package on the House floor next week unless deeper cuts were adopted.” It is quite possible these members of the Republican Study Committee will offer amendments to fully eliminate the NEA during floor consideration. We need you to send a message to your Members calling on them to reject these cuts to the NEA because they will negatively affect the district back home.

By taking two minutes today to send a customizable message via our E-Advocacy Center, we will automatically send letters on your behalf to both your Senators and your House Representative. This will ensure that your voice will be heard by Members of Congress (especially freshmen members), who are now assessing their constituents’ viewpoints on these budget cuts.

Help us continue this important work by becoming an official member of the Arts Action Fund. If you are not already a member play your part by joining the Arts Action Fund today -- it's free and simple.

Arts Funding Cuts?

From Citizens for the Arts in PA (2/11/11):

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) faces a reduction of approximately $12 million to the current year's appropriation in a Continuing Resolution (CR) appropriations package that will be presented on the floor of the U.S. House of Representative early next week. This would bring the current year appropriation to $155 million. Deeper cuts could be made to the NEA appropriation through the inclusion of amendments that can be offered to the CR on the House floor.

Americans for the Arts and Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania is urging you to take two minutes today to send an e-mail to your members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation expressing your concern about additional cuts beyond those offered in the CR. Americans for the Arts has created an e-mail template for your use to make it easier to contact your Representatives.

Take two minutes, right now, to send that e-mail.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Jenny

Jenny L. Hershour

Managing Director

News from the NEA

A message from the National Endowment for the Arts:

President Barack Obama delivered his annual State of the Union speech before the United States Congress where he addressed three areas of concern that resonate with arts advocates: federal spending, jobs and education policy. Earlier this week, 165 conservative members of Congress representing the Republican Study Committee called for termination of the National Endowment for the Arts and key arts education programs at the U.S. Department of Education. We know that the battle to protect these programs will be tough this year, but with your help, not insurmountable.

Please take two minutes to take action and send a message to your member of Congress in support of the National Endowment for the Arts or arts education at the U.S. Department of Education.

Several major newspapers across the country interviewed Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob Lynch in response to the dubious notion that cutting the arts will actually reduce the nation’s deficit. In today’s New York Times, Bob pointed out that the arts support 5.7 million jobs in the United States that generate about $30 billion in taxes, nearly $13 billion of which goes to the federal government and said, "If they’re serious about jobs and they’re serious about income, they would invest more in the arts.”

Since 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts has been serving arts organizations and artists in every state and every community. The arts not only play an important role in our nation’s well-being and foster creativity and innovation, but they also create jobs and prepare our workforce to compete in the global economy. Including the arts in a comprehensive and formal education for every student is critical. The education reforms that the President and leaders in Congress should be looking at are ones that strengthen the role of the arts and truly implement it as a core academic subject in schools throughout the country.

Help us continue this important work by becoming an official member of the Arts Action Fund. If you are not already a member play your part by joining the Arts Action Fund today -- it's free and simple.

NEA Releases New Grant Guidelines

From Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania:

Along with a new strategic plan titled, Arts Works for America, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has released grant guidelines to accompany the strategic plan. There are many substantive changes that may affect many areas of the arts sector. For more information visit http://arts.gov/grants/apply/index.html.