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
March 26, 2010
1. Health Care Reform Will Help Artists, and Help Small Arts Nonprofits Offer Health Care
2. Arts Funding in Conference Committee, Nearly Done
3. Governor Vetoes Some Arts Projects, Lets Others Live
4. President’s Arts Budget Proposal Cites New York Mills, MN
5. Artists, Declare Yourself in the Census
6. Congratulations to “SALLY AWARD” Winners
7. Watch “Because You Voted Yes,” Now On-Line
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1. Health Care Reform Will Help Artists, and Help Small Arts Nonprofits Offer Health Care
We found out in our study Artists Count (done in collaboration with Springboard for the Arts, 2007) that artists are twice as likely as the rest of the population to be without health insurance. So, how will Health Care Reform help artists and arts organizations afford health care? Many great minds are trying to figure that out right now, but we already know a few things about reform that should be very helpful indeed, at least to some:
YOUNG ARTISTS: Can, starting now, be covered on their parent’s health insurance policy until age 26.
SMALL ARTS NON-PROFITS: With the signing of the health insurance reform bill this morning, one of the very first provisions to be immediately enacted is a tax credit to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35% of premiums will be immediately available to firms (including nonprofit organizations) that choose to offer coverage. Then, beginning in 2014, these small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums. Our national partner Americans for the Arts staff participated in many lobbying visits along with staff from Independent Sector relating to this provision and we are very pleased that it remained in the final legislation.
“Small employer incentive”
The final health care package would provide a tax credit beginning in 2010 through 2013 for businesses and 501(c) organizations with less than 25 employees and average wages below $50,000. During those three years, the bill permits a credit for all eligible small employers that provide insurance for their employees, and beginning in 2014, credits are available to employers purchasing employee coverage through health insurance exchanges. Nonprofits could take a credit in the initial period of 25 percent of the employer contribution and 35 percent in subsequent years, and apply the credit to taxes they withhold from payroll. Employees would still receive full credit for taxes withheld from their pay. For businesses, the credit is 35 percent initially and 50 percent in the proceeding years. The different values of the credit reportedly relate to efforts at cost containment (the nonprofit provision costs $2.1 billion over 10 years) and to reflect the differences in the frequency and likelihood of paying taxes between for-profit and nonprofit employers. [Source: Independent Sector]
Most of the larger provisions won’t take effect for four years, so most of us won’t see immediate changes. More details can be found on Laura Zabel’s blog at Springboard for the Arts: http://www.springboardforthearts.org/blog/blog.asp.
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2. Arts Funding in Conference Committee, Nearly Done
At the Minnesota State Capitol, arts funding has been wrapped into a larger bill that funds about half of the state’s budget. That bill is now in conference committee, where they will work out the difference between the House and Senate versions, then send the bill back to the floor and to the Governor for his signature. The Governor proposed getting rid of the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils by 2013 by zeroing them out in the budget. Neither the House or Senate was interested in that proposal, and both sides have recommended giving the arts the same average cut as they are giving to all state agencies – somewhere between 3 and 6%. This is exactly what we had asked from the legislature on Arts Advocacy Day, so our work has had the desired effect. We should know by Monday where we land, but it won’t be over until the Governor signs the bill.
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3. Governor Vetoes Some Arts Projects, Lets Others Live
Last week the legislature and Governor took final action on the state’s bonding bill. Remember that the bonding bill is a completely different process than the funding we advocate go to the entire arts community. It is available only for building projects, and there are a number of other restrictions. Several arts organizations were competing for bonding dollars at the legislature this year, and quite a few got through the legislative process to be included in the bill that was sent to the Governor.
Unfortunately, the Governor chose to veto both the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden rehabilitation project ($2M) and the Chatfield Potter Center for the Arts ($2.2M). The good news is that he did not veto two others – $16M for rehabbing Orchestra Hall in Mpls., and $12M for a project at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Other Governor vetoes included the African American History Museum ($840,000) and the Asian-Pacific Cultural Center ($5M).
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4. President’s Arts Budget Proposal Cites New York Mills, MN
“Our Town”
The National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) budget proposal names New York Mills, Minnesota; among other places such as Paducah, Kentucky; Bangor, Maine; Colquitt, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; North Adams, Massachusetts; Houston, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Bellingham, Washington as examples of places where “the engagement of the arts has been transformational to the vitality of a community.” The budget narrative also refers to the work of many states that have designated communities as arts districts or creative communities, which “concentrates State resources in areas where local communities are prepared to undertake significant cultural development work to achieve positive economic outcomes.”
With these towns as inspirations, the NEA has proposed a new initiative, “Our Town,” funded at $5 million and paid for by discontinuing the American Masterpieces program created by the previous administration. The endowment’s “Our Town” “signature program . . . reflects the values and aspirations of the new administration aimed at “helping to revitalize and improve the livability of communities, provide joy and inspiration, and restore a sense of pride and community spirit.” This proposal has been included in the President’s budget which has been submitted to Congress.
Funding from Our Town would include support for:
- planning and development of arts districts;
- promotion of the arts and artists as integral components of community life and essential to community planning;
- partnerships linking architecture, streetscapes, parks and landscapes, and the arts;
- promoting the arts as core to community livability through artist residencies, public art spaces, festivals, outdoor exhibitions and temporary or permanent site-specific
- public art such as murals and sculptures.
- Grants would go to projects in approximately 35 communities, “especially those that are facing economic challenges but are interested in the arts.”
The NEA is already working on the first round of “Our Town” grants. I’ve heard through the grapevine that some communities in MN have applied.
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5. Artists, Declare Yourself in the Census
Everyone should be receiving their census form this week, and as artists there is something you should know. The funding for many federal programs depends upon population figures determined by the census. This is also true of Regional Arts Council funding. The more people you have in a given area, the more funding you will get if population is one of the factors that determines where the money goes. SO, first of all, answer the census.
Secondly, most research that talks about how many artists are in our state are based on the census long form, now known as the “American Community Survey,” which is sent to fewer househoulds but is even more important. The long form asks people to fill in their occupation. Because so many artists are entrepreneurs who work part time in the arts, many answer something other than “artist” in this form, which means artists are severely undercounted. So, if you get the chance because you get the long form, make sure to declare yourself as part of the artist nation.
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6. Congratulations to “SALLY AWARD” Winners
I’m very happy to report that Craig Dunn, former Chair of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, accepted a Sally Award this week on behalf of VSA arts of Minnesota for its Vision. Other awardees included choreographer Myron Johnson for his Commitment, Bedlam Theatre for its Initiative, and T. Mycheal Rambo for Education. All very well deserved, congratulations to all!
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7. Watch “Because You Voted Yes,” Now On-Line
The public TV station in Austin, MN, has produced a great show about how the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment got passed and what it means for the arts. They did a really great job, and not just because they included an interview with me:
Check it out on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoRyLwQzeok. (If the link doesn’t get you there, search for “KSMQ Because You Voted Yes.”
Thanks also to Matt Peiken of 3 Minute Egg, who interviewed some of our Republican legislators on Arts Advocacy Day to gauge their response to our visits. Check out his great video at: http://blip.tv/file/3292443
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