arts alert: Legislature Passes Arts Funding With Minimal Cut
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 29, 2010
1. Arts Funding Bill Passes Legislature with Small Arts Cut
2. Join TWEETART Day on April 13
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1. Arts Funding Bill Passes Legislature with Small Arts Cut
I am very happy to report that the legislature today passed the bill which included arts funding with only a minimal cut to the arts. You may recall that the Governor had proposed completely eliminating General Fund dollars for the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils, turning the board into a non-profit. The legislature had no interest in that proposal whatsoever, and passed today a bill that responded to our request to cut the arts only as much as the average cut to all state agencies, 3-6%. The state has an enormous deficit this year and expects to have an even bigger deficit next year, so lots of things are being cut. Therefore, this is a best case scenario for us.
2010: Cut of 3% (-$259,000)
2011: Cut of 3.3% -($284,000)
Thank you to everyone who called, wrote, or visited their legislators in the last couple of months. Your work made a difference.
Now, we must wait to see what the Governor will do. We should know in a few days if he will sign the whole bill, line item veto some of it, or veto the whole thing. Keep your fingers crossed.
(Note that this cut will not affect Arts and Heritage Fund grants that the MSAB and RACs are now considering across the state, as that is a different source of funds. However, it may (very) slightly reduce general fund grant sizes in 2011).
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2. Join TWEETART Day on April 13
“Want to help promote the arts? It’s simple. Help us push “arts” into Twitter’s trending topics on April 13 to coincide with National Arts Advocacy Day. The following tweet will be sent out en-masse from all participants: “Tweet for the #arts today! It’s National Arts Advocacy Day. http://www.TweetArtsDay.org“
Want to help promote the arts but can’t travel to D.C.? It’s simple. Help us push “arts” into Twitter’s trending topics on April 13 to coincide with National Arts Advocacy Day. By signing up at http://www.tweetartsday.org, you can take a virtual stand with arts activists who will be lobbying on Capitol Hill. You can sign-up in advance through the secure login at http://www.tweetartsday.org and tweets will be sent en-masse from every participant on April 13. It’s an easy way to encourage legislators to continue funding and support for the arts and also to raise awareness for the arts on a national and global level. Tweet “Arts” Day is a collaborative project of Americans for the Arts and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
I’ve just started to Twitter (a very weird experiment at my age, I must admit), but this is a fun idea. So if you are a Twitterer, Tweet with us by signing up at http://www.tweetartsday.org!