Happy New Year From MCA
MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center
December 15, 2007
1. Happy New Year from MCA
2. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy
3. Event Reminders from MCA: Advocacy Day Registration Now Available On-line
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1. Happy New Year from MCA
We are living in interesting and historic times for the arts in Minnesota. There is growth, there is change, there are highlights and low lights for artists, arts organizations and audiences. Congratulations to artists who have created whole new worlds this year. Congratulations to the boards and staff of arts organizations who have built infrastructure this year that will serve Minnesotans far into the future. And congratulations to audiences who have had the privilege to witness and experience it all.
As an organization that serves both our arts community and the public, MCA’s mission is to ensure access to the arts for all Minnesotans. With you as a partner, we have had a historic year of success at the legislature. We increased funding for the arts statewide, we will have a state Poet Laureate, and we restored the state’s Percent for Art Program.
But even with these successes there is still very much more to do. We have not yet recovered from the massive cuts to the arts in 2003. Every time there is a state deficit the arts are threatened for cuts, even though funding for the arts are such a tiny portion of the overall state budget. So we still have far to go in meeting our mission.
This has prompted new thinking – how do we ensure funding for the arts in the long term? Is it time to find dedicated funding for cultural heritage?
The answer to the dedicated funding question has come in the form of the constitutional amendment for conservation and cultural heritage that nearly passed the legislature last year. The Majority Leaders of both the House and Senate have pledged to pass the bill early in the next legislative session that begins on Feb. 12, 2008. For this reason Arts Advocacy Day will be held just two days later on Feb. 14. Once passed by the legislature the ballot question bypasses the Governor to go directly to voters in November 2008. Then, if passed by the voters, funding for cultural heritage will triple from current levels and will be in place at that higher level for the next 25 years.
This new source of stable, dedicated funding could create a renaissance for the arts in Minnesota. Minnesotans will have greatly expanded opportunities for access to the arts and artists and arts organizations will see new creative opportunities statewide. Our cultural heritage, along with our beautiful natural environment, are at the core of what makes Minnesota a great place to live. This proposal, combining my two favorite things about my home state, makes perfect sense.
We are already organizing a statewide campaign with conservationists to make the proposal a reality.
The next year will bring new and exciting challenges to arts advocates in Minnesota, with the potential to make the greatest impact we’ve ever been able to make. Watch this space as history unfolds. We look forward to an exciting and successful 2008.
Happy Holidays
from Sheila Smith
and the Board and Staff of MCA
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2. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy
Everyone needs Arts Advocacy! We’ll make it easy for you:
Give an MCA membership on MCA’s secure web site at:
mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/
Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at:
www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
Happy Holidays!
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4. Event Reminders from MCA:
Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day
February 14, 2008 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota History Center and Minnesota State Capitol
More information here: http://mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/
Register On-line Now: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ugq3_2f8alNd0TXXWulLHyAg_3d_3d
Explore Minnesota Cultural Tourism Conference
January 22-24, 2008 (Cultural Tourism Day is January 23)
Alltel Civic Center, Mankato
More information here: industry.exploreminnesota.com/2008_Minnesota_Conference_on_Tourism.html
National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp
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Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts
View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!
Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.
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