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arts alert: Senate Passes Bill With 20% Cut in State Arts Funding

Friday, April 1st, 2011
MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561

@MnCitizen
Arts Action Center
March 24, 2011

1. Take Action: Senate Passes Bill With 20% Cut in State Arts Funding
2.”Yeah! We’ve Got This!” Andy Reports on Arts Advocacy Day
3. Next Legacy Weekends Coming Up: St Paul & Crookston
4. Be Counted In MN Arts Count Survey
5. So, You Couldn’t Come To Advocacy Day: Please Send A Letter Now!

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1. Take Action: Senate Passes Bill With 20% Cut in State Arts Funding
GENERAL FUND:
Both the Senate and House committees overseeing regular arts fundng proposed and passed bills that would cut 20% out of the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils. Yesterday, the Senate passed its bill on the floor. The House is expected to do the same next week.
The state’s $5 billion deficit is about 15% of the budget overall. The cut is obviously larger than the state deficit would require. The bills will now go to the floor and conference committee where they may be still changed…for better or for worse, and then it is expected that Governor Dayton will veto these bills and ask the Legislature start over. But that just means more legislative chaos. We have a very long road ahead of us. We hope it doesn’t get worse, and we are working very hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.
If you haven’t yet contacted your legislator, do it now HERE:
ARTS LEGACY FUNDS:
As for Arts Legacy funds, it looks like the schedule is a bit longer. It sounds like those committees aren’t going to make their recommendations for a few more weeks. However, we are facing the spectre of a bunch of proposed earmarks taking up large hunks of Arts Legacy funds, turning a statewide resource via the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regonal Arts Councils into just a few bricks and mortar projects that would benefit only a few people. I will let you know when there is more definite word about the timing of decisions about Legacy funds, but again, the best thing you can do is write your legislators!
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2. “Yeah! We’ve Got This!” Andy Reports on Arts Advocacy Day
Intrepid reporter Andy Sturdevant from Springboard for the Arts wrote about his experience at Arts Advocacy Day, including these great descriptions of the day:
“That’s why Arts Advocacy Day is such an invigorating, inspirational,  occasionally frustrating, but mostly exciting event. You’re up there on  the hill with hundreds of other members of the Minnesota arts community,  many of whom you know well. During the morning assembly, there’s a  sense of camaraderie and solidarity, a sense of critical mass in knowing  that people who share your values are sitting down with lawmakers to  discuss why art is important. As you pass each other in the halls,  rushing to your meetings, catching glances at each other, exchanging  grins, you share the feeling of, “Yeah! We’ve got
this!”

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3.  Next Legacy Weekends Coming Up: St Paul and Crookston
St. Paul and Crookston have put together some fun events to highlight the good things coming to their cities because of Legacy grants. Join St. Paul’s event on March 31-April 3, and Crookston’s on April 15-17. The Legacy  Destination Weekends program is a partnership of Minnesota Citizens for       the Arts, Conservation Minnesota, and Explore Minnesota Tourism, the  state’s tourism promotion office, intended to raise awareness of
all the good things Minnesotans can experience because they voted for the Amendment. Each weekend
features a series of arts and historical events put on by  organizations that have received Legacy grants. (For more times, dates, and locations go to www.exploreminnesota.com/legacy).
ST. PAUL – March 31- April 3

Visit Saint Paul, the city’s convention & visitors bureau is organizing the weekend with Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Minnesota Historical Society, Actors Theater of Minnesota and Ramsey County.

‘Many of our members have benefitted from the Legacy grants, and this is a great way to get the message out there by bringing visitors to Saint Paul for a weekend full of exciting things to do,”  said Karolyn Kirchgesler, President & CEO of Visit Saint Paul.  ”There will be something for everyone!”
Activities in St. Paul include:
ARTS: Funded by Arts Legacy Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board
- Ordway Center for the Performing Arts: Performances of STOMP, the amazing percussionists, on April 1-2-3, For tickets and information, visit: www.ordway.org.
- Actors Theater of Minnesota / The Lowry Theater: Performance of “Flannagan’s Wake” April 1, 7 pm
- St. Paul Chamber Orchestra: Performances throughout the weekend.

go to the SPCO’s website at www.thespco.org, choose a concert, and then type the code “legacy” and you can get $10 tickets to one of our upcoming concerts. You’ll get the best available seats, regularly priced up to $40 per ticket. Limit 4 tickets per order. Subject to availability.
OUTDOORS: Enjoy a bike ride along the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail, which takes you into downtown Saint Paul, passing historic sights such as the Island Station Power Plant that was built in the 1920s and the 6-story St. Paul Municipal Grain Elevator, built in 1931. Crosby Farm Regional Park boasts a marina and plentiful trails. You can find an historic pavilion and paddleboat tours at Harriet Island Regional Park.  Up on the bluff, hikers and bikers can visit Cherokee Regional Trail above the St. Paul High Bridge. Sam Morgan Regional Trail and Crosby Farm Regional Park have received Legacy
Funding to renovate and connect the trail as well as convert unused roadbed to green space.  Cherokee Regional Trail has also received Legacy funds to construct a 1.3-mile section of a
regional trail from Ohio to Smith Avenue.
HISTORY: Events at the Minnesota History Center: 2 for 1 admission both April 2-3. Legacy Information Fair all weekend, Meet and Greet with Meterologist Paul Douglas on Saturday 10-1, and Lecture “For the Love of Lakes” with Professor Darby Nelson from 1-2. On Sunday, get Behind the Scenes Access to MHS’s new exhibit “Our Minnesota” and participate in “A Thousand Journeys, One Home: Asian Pacific Heritage Day” from 12-4. Tours also available at the James J Hill House and the State Capitol.
CROOKSTON – April 15-17
Crookston’s “Legacy Weekend” is being organized by the Crookston Convention & Visitors Bureau, University of Minnesota, Crookston, Crookston High, Northwest Minnesota Regional Arts Council, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, and Prairie Skyline Preservation Foundation. A detailed schedule of events will be available online at www.visitcrookston.com. All events are free and open to the
public. 

“Our community offers both cultural and outdoor recreation, and we thought it would be fun to let people sample the variety of great things there are to see and do in Crookston.” said Sandy Kegler. “It’s a positive thing for our area.”

Activities in Crookston include:

 

ARTS: Funded by Arts Legacy Grants from the Northwest Regional Arts Council:
-Mexican Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo, UMC Campus: April 15, 4-7 pm, authentic cuisine, traditional crafts including hand-made Piñata making for children, Marketplace, Mexican folk music and Mariachi music,  Fresh Voices Hispanic Youth Leadership photography exhibit and youth video previews, 7-9 pm. and performances in Kiehle Auditorium, UMC Campus. 9 pm-12 am. Dance the night away
to the music of Sonora Café, location TBD on the UMC campus.
-Northwest  Minnesota Art Council’s Legacy Exhibition at the Crookston Public Library  from April 6-17, ending    with the artist reception on Sunday, April 17th.
OUTDOORS: Prairie Chicken Mating Dances! A self guided tour of the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, the largest prairie and wetland restoration project area in U.S. history, and greater prairie chicken ‘booming grounds’ beginning about 5:00 A.M.  Reserve a blind for viewing any day from April 15-22 by calling 218-281-4320 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday –Friday. The prairie restoration and the water clean up
were funded by DNR, Polk County, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever which received funds from the Legacy Grant.

 

HISTORY: Prairie Skyline Foundation in Crookston received a Legacy grant from Minnesota Historical Society to conduct a feasibility study on the reuse of the former Cathedral on Ash Street in Crookston. There will be a display about the study comparing possible re-uses of the building at both the Cinco de Mayo event and at the Library. Also, on April 16 “Walks, Wicks & Wine,” take a historic walking tour of downtown Crookston and learn about the early days when Crookston was the “Queen City.” Tours begin at 10 am on Saturday, April 16th at the Crookston Public
Library, and will be offered until 1:00 pm.

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4. Be Counted In MN Arts Count Survey
Whether a personal or professional interest, arts are important to you – and to the quality of life in Minnesota. The Minnesota Legacy Amendment passed in 2008 helps support creative expression through grants dispersed by theMinnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils. 

As part of dedicating funding to the arts from the Amendment, the state legislature has called for the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils to conduct a census of artists and artistic organizations to measure the far-reaching influence of the arts in the state.

We, along with the Minnesota State Arts Board, invite anyone who, professionally or personally, engages in any and every form of creative expression to participate
in the MN Arts Count census. Do you sing? Act? Dance? Write? Draw? Paint? Sculpt? Photograph? Weave? Play an instrument? Compose? No matter how well or how publicly you share your talents, be proud and be counted.

Go to www.MNArtsCount.com to complete the census. If you prefer, paper surveys are available by calling 800-748-3222 ext. 225. Help us spread the word. Tell your friends to be counted, too. You can
also follow the project on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you! MN Arts Count 2011. From ballet to bottle caps, your art counts.

——————————————————————
5. So, You Couldn’t Come To Advocacy Day: Please Send A Letter Now!
So, you can’t be at the Capitol. You can still make a difference! Legislators say if they get just ten letters from constituents on an issue, they know it’s really important. Be one of the ten.

We make it easy for you, just go here:
FYI…KSTP reporting on bills that would divert Arts Legacy funds away from the arts…
Here’s  an example of the threats we face: KSTP did a story on all  of the bills that have been introduced to divert Arts Legacy resources  to unrelated things. You can watch it here: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1993627.shtml?cat=1. We need to stick together to protect the arts!
—————————————————————— 

RESOURCES

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/ 

TWITTER: @MnCitizen
FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
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 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!
PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.
ABOUT: 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.


Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

arts alert: News from Legislature Not Great

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
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
@MnCitizen
Arts Action Center
March 14, 2011

1. News From Legislature Isn’t Great.
2. Arts Advocacy Day Brings 700+ to Capitol
3. Be Counted! In MN Arts Count Survey
4. So, You Couldn’t Come To Advocacy Day: Please Send A Letter Now:
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1. News From Legislature Isn’t Great.
This week the House and Senate leadership revealed their spending targets for legislative committees, and their proposal was pretty shocking. The state’s $5 billion deficit is about 15% of the budget overall. They are planning to hold Education, which makes up about half of the budget, harmless. This means everything else in the budget will take a bigger hit, but does not explain why, in the Senate, the State Government and Veterans Committee, where regular arts funding is located, has been targeted for a 55% cut! The House State Government spending target is slightly less bad, at a 36% cut.
This doesn’t mean that arts funding will be recommended for cuts at this level, but it does mean that lots of things will be proposed for large cuts, and that is not good news for us.  These committees are going to make their funding recommendations in the next week and a half, so if you haven’t yet contacted your legislator, do it now HERE: http://www.capwiz.com/artsusa/mn/issues/alert/?alertid=12568891&type=ST&show_alert=1
As for Arts Legacy funds, it looks like the schedule is a bit longer. It sounds like those committees aren’t going to make their recommendations for a few more weeks. However, we are facing the spectre of a bunch of proposed earmarks taking up large hunks of Arts Legacy funds, turning a statewide resource via the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regonal Arts Councils into just a few bricks and morter projects that would benefit only a few people. I will let you know when there is more definate word about the timing of decisions about Legacy funds, but again, the best thing you can do is write your legislators!
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2. Arts Advocacy Day Brings 700+ to Capitol
A huge crowd of 700+ arts advocates came to the Capitol last week to ask their legislators to support the arts. Wow! What a great group!  We started with a rally in the Minnesota History Center where we tried out Josh Wise’s Arts Advocacy Rouser (people loved it) and heard from the Chair of the Legacy Committee in the House, Rep. Dean Urdahl about his support for the arts. Then the chaos began, as 700 people sorted themselves into 36 teams and headed up to the Capitol to talk
to their elected officials. Timing was perfect, just a few days before legislative committees are scheduled to make recommendations for arts funding.
Congratulations to MCA Board Member Michael Robins who received The “Larry Award,” given by MCA to an unsung hero of arts advocacy, and to Speaker Kurt Zellers who received the 2010 “Arts All Star Award”  for his support of the arts in the legislature.
And THANK YOU to all of you who drove from every corner of the state to be a part of our most important day. The most important thing that happend that day was that YOU became the face of the arts for your legislators. We’ve had many good reports back from meetings where legislators made the connection between state funding for the arts and their constituents back home, and that should translate into more support when the legislature starts taking votes.

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3. Be Counted! In MN Arts Count Survey
Whether a personal or professional interest, arts are important to you – and to the quality of life in Minnesota. The Minnesota Legacy Amendment passed in 2008 helps support creative expression through grants dispersed by theMinnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils.

As part of dedicating funding to the arts from the Amendment, the state legislature has called for the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils to conduct a census of artists and artistic organizations to measure the far-reaching influence of the arts in the state.

We, along with the Minnesota State Arts Board, invite anyone who, professionally or personally, engages in any and every form of creative expression to participate
in the MN Arts Count census. Do you sing? Act? Dance? Write? Draw? Paint? Sculpt? Photograph? Weave? Play an instrument? Compose? No matter how well or how publicly you share your talents, be proud and be counted.

Go to www.MNArtsCount.com to complete the census. If you prefer, paper surveys are available by calling 800-748-3222 ext. 225. Help us spread the word. Tell your friends to be counted, too. You can
also follow the project on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you! MN Arts Count 2011
From ballet to bottle caps, your art counts.

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4. So, You Couldn’t Come To Advocacy Day: Please Send A Letter Now:
So, you can’t be at the Capitol. You can still make a difference! Legislators say if they get just ten letters from constituents on an issue, they know it’s really important. Be one of the ten.

We make it easy for you, just go here:
FYI…KSTP reporting on bills that would divert Arts Legacy funds away from the arts…
Here’s  an example of the threats we face: KSTP did a story on all  of the bills that have been introduced to divert Arts Legacy resources  to unrelated things. You can watch it here: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1993627.shtml?cat=1. We need to stick together to protect the arts!
——————————————————————

RESOURCES

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

TWITTER: @MnCitizen
FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
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 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!
PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.
ABOUT: 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.



Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

ADV: arts alert: Advocacy Day Sign-up Deadline Today: What Else You Can Do

Thursday, March 10th, 2011
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
@MnCitizen
Arts Action Center
March 4, 2011

1. Arts Advocacy Day Signup Deadline is Today!
2. What Else You Can Do: Send A Letter Now, Link Below
3. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-St.Paul) Speaks Out Against Cuts to NEA

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1. Arts Advocacy Day Signup Deadline is Today!
KSTP reporting on bills that would divert Arts Legacy funds away from the arts…
The closer we get to Arts  Advocacy Day the more we know how much we need you there. Our presence at the state capitol will be really important this year as we work to protect  the arts in the face of Minnesota’s huge deficit. BE A PART OF THE  ACTION at MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011.
Here’s an example of the threats we face: Last night KSTP did a story on all of the bills that have been introduced to divert Arts Legacy resources to unrelated things. You can watch it here: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1993627.shtml?cat=1. We need to stick together to protect the arts!
Come join your fellow arts advocates at Minnesota History Center and State Capitol on March 8, 2011 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota. Artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to prevent possible devastating cuts to the state arts budget because of a $6.2 billion state budget deficit. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past years participants helped to stop efforts that would have removed arts funding altogether.
You can also be the first to hear the latest news on what the $6.2 billion deficit means for arts funding and what MCA is doing to secure funds for the arts from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
HOW IT WORKS:
We start with a rally at the MN History Center, and then split into teams. You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing.
By working together we show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community. Your elected officials are your voice in government: let them know what you think! Arts people from every corner of the state will be coming together on March 8. It’s  the best arts networking opportunity of the year, so sign up now on our  website at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org. (Please sign up so we can get you assigned to the right team and get materials ready for you. Sign up deadline is this Friday, March 4!)
Here’s the schedule of the day:
7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar Join your team
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for New Attendees
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee (if not attending class)
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator Appointments

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2. What Else You Can Do: Send A Letter Now, Here’s the Link
Can’t make it to St. Paul on Tuesday? You can still participate by sending your legislator a quick note from our website.
We make it easy for you, just go here:

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3. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-St.Paul) Speaks Out Against Cuts to NEA


On February 19, House Republicans passed H.R. 1, a bill to fund the federal government for the rest of 2011. The bill included draconian cuts to the NEA and NEH. H.R. 1 reduced by $43 million the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) budget to $124 million and reduced the National Endowment for the Humanities budget by $24 million. The bill also unbelievably eliminated all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Rep. McCollum issued this statement in response:

“I strongly opposed the
House Republican budget and its reckless $60 billion in community cuts that will destroy Minnesota jobs and divest in basic health care, environment and public safety priorities that are critical to our communities. One independent economic analysis put total job loss for H.R. 1 at 700,000.

The Republican bill targets federal support for the arts, a sector that plays a vital role in creating jobs in Minnesota. In the 4th Congressional District alone, I have nearly 8,400 constituents who are employed in arts jobs. Across Minnesota, that number is 54,000. I appreciate all of you who took the time to express your dismay at these economically harmful cuts.

Last summer, I had the privilege of hosting an arts town hall forum with NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. He saw up close how seriously we take the
arts in Minnesota. You can read my remarks from that event here. I look forward to working with members of the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts as we fight to make the case why public investment in the arts is good for jobs and for our communities. I am fighting to protect the arts because you want me to fight!”

Rep. Betty McCollum in the new 112th Congress increased her seniority on the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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RESOURCES

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.  JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

TWITTER: @MnCitizen
FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s
store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
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 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!
PRIVACY: MCA values your
privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.
ABOUT: 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.

Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | Comments Off

arts alert: Sign up for Advocacy Day, Just Two Weeks Away

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
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
@MnCitizen
Arts Action Center
February 21, 2011

Arts Advocacy Day is Just Two Weeks Away!
Arts  Advocacy Day will be really important this year as we work to protect  the arts in the face of Minnesota’s huge deficit. BE A PART OF THE  ACTION at MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011.
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts invites you to join your fellow arts advocates at the Minnesota History Center and State Capitol on March 8, 2011 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota.
This year at Arts Advocacy Day artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to prevent possible devastating cuts to the state arts budget because of a $6.2 billion state budget deficit. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past years participants helped to stop efforts that would have removed arts funding altogether.
Be the first to hear the latest news on what the $6.2 billion deficit means for arts funding and what MCA is doing to secure funds for the arts from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing.
By working together we show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community. Your elected officials are your voice in government: let them know what you think!
Arts people from every corner of the state come together in St. Paul. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year, so sign up now on our website at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org.
Here’s the schedule of the day:
7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar Join your team
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for New Attendees
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee (if not attending class)
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator Appointments
MCA’s Field Worker Josh Wise has written a very fun “Arts Advocacy Rouser” to encourage people to advocate for the arts. Here’s a sample verse:
“We aim to bring the arts to everyone
And in two thousand eight we got it done
We put the arts in Minnesota’s constitution
The Legacy Amendment makes us number one!”

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RESOURCES

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.  JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

TWITTER: @MnCitizen
FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s
store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
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 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!
PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to
anyone.
ABOUT: 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.


Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

arts alert: So Far, So Good: Governor’s Recs for Arts Only Half Made

Friday, February 18th, 2011
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
@MnCitizen
Arts Action Center
February 18, 2011

1. So Far, So Good: Governor’s Recs for Arts Half Made

2. U.S. House Votes to Cut National Endowment for the Arts
3. SIGN UP NOW! For Arts Advocacy Day, March 8

4. Alexandria Legacy Weekend Makes a Bit Hit
5. Background: Arts Funding

——————————————
1. So Far, So Good: Governor’s Recs for Arts Half Made
This week Governor Dayton released his budget, but only made half of the needed recommendations on arts funding. The arts are funded from two sources: the General Fund, the traditional source of funding, and the Legacy Fund, created by the passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008. However, the Governor only made General Fund recommendations.
The Governor made a very reasonable 5% reduction in General funding for the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils. We had asked that any cuts to the arts be commensurate with the cuts to all other state agencies. We consider his recommendation a best-case scenario in the context of the state’s $6.2 billion deficit, for which the Governor should be thanked.
However, the Governor did not yet make any recommendations for the arts from the Legacy amendment. Until he does, we will not have a complete picture on the Governor’s position on funding for the arts.
You may recall that during the campaign, the Governor-to-be sat down with us for a video interview on arts issues, during which he stated he supported dedicating 50% of the Legacy’s arts fund to the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council system, because “the system ensures that funding reaches every corner of Minnesota” and because “they’ve done a remarkable job.” (View video here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts#p/a/u/2/VP0AvJjGXAA . The statement on the Arts Fund is at 1:13).
——————————————
2. U.S. House Votes to Cut National Endowment for the Arts
Distressing news came from Washington DC this week. First the  President recommended a FY2012 reduction for the National Endowment for  the Arts (NEA), and then the U.S. House voted to make further cuts for  FY2011.  Current annual funding is $167.5 million per year, of which           $4,643,090 comes to Minnesota.
When President Obama released his budget request to Congress  on Valentine’s Day, he requested a $21 million decrease in funding for       the NEA, reducing the total from $167.5M to $146M. This cut, if put into  effect, would be for FY2012.
At a time when philanthropic dollars are still hard to come by due  to the recession, these added cuts do not take into account the  incredible return on investment those funds make to federal, state and  local governments. We agree with Americans for the Arts that “the  President has missed the mark with such a deep cut to the primary  federal source for leveraging support for cultural programs from public  and private funding.”
The second blow came when an amendment passed yesterday on the floor that would further reduce NEA funding for FY2011 by $20.6 million. This is in addition to an already reduced budget of  $145 million, for a total cut to the NEA of $42 million. The amendment  alone would directly reduce money to Minnesota by $1,185,102.  This bill  now goes on to the Senate, where Senators can stop it if they wish.  Please contact Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to ask them to oppose further cuts to the NEA by going here:

http://www.capwiz.com/artsusa/mn/state/main/?state=MN.

FYI, Minnesota’s members of the U.S. House voting FOR these cuts: Bachmann, Cravaack, Kline,  Paulsen. And Minnesota’s members of the U.S. House voting AGAINST the cuts: Ellison, McCollum, Walz, and C. Peterson.

——————————————

3. SIGN UP NOW for Arts Advocacy Day, March 8!

Arts  Advocacy Day will be really important this year as we work to protect  the arts in the face of Minnesota’s huge deficit. BE A PART OF THE  ACTION at MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011. We start with a rally and then split into teams to talk to legislators about why they should support the arts. Arts people from every corner of the state come together in St. Paul. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year, so sign up now on our website at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org. Join us!
MCA’s Field Worker Josh Wise has written a very fun “Arts Advocacy Rouser” to encourage people to advocate for the arts. Here’s a sample verse:
“We aim to bring the arts to everyone
And in two thousand eight we got it done
We put the arts in Minnesota’s constitution
The Legacy Amendment makes us number one!”

——————————————


4. Alexandria Legacy Weekend Makes a Bit Hit
Alexandria’s Legacy Weekend was such a big hit that not only were all the area hotels full, they were turning people away! Over 2500 anglers showed up for a fishing contest (and not one of them caught a fish…but that’s another story). Big crowds enjoyed a play at the AAAA theater, others enjoyed tours of local historical sites and museums. There was even a minnow eating contest on the lake. Check out this nice article on the weekend in the Alexandria Echo Press: http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/82357/

——————————————

5. Background: Arts Funding
The Minnesota Legislature has begun hearings on the state’s budget, and the arts have ended up in two committees:
REGULAR FUNDING: Arts funding has been split in half. The regular arts funding, which comes from the General Fund, will be considered by the full State Government Innovation & Veterans Budget & Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Parry (G-Waseca) in the Senate and Rep. Morrie Lanning (Moorhead) in the House. Here are the members:
House – State Government Finance
Morrie Lanning, R-9A, Moorhead, Chair, RAC: 4
Mike Benson, R-30A, Rochester, Vice Chair, RAC: 10
King Banaian, R-15B, St. Cloud, RAC: 7W
Bob Gunther, R-24A, Fairmont, RAC: 9
Bruce Anderson, R-19A, Buffalo, RAC: 7W
Keith Downey, R-41A, Edina, RAC: 11
Ernie Leidiger, R-34A, Mayer, RAC: 11
Kathy Lohmer, R-56A, Lake Elmo, RAC: 11
Carolyn McElfatrick, R-3B, Deer River, RAC: 3
Rich Murray, R-27A, Albert Lea, RAC: 10
Kurt Stensrud, R-42A, Eden Prairie, RAC: 11
Dean Urdahl, R-18B, Grove City, RAC: 7W, 6/8
Phyllis Kahn, D-59B, Minneapolis, Minority Lead, RAC: 11
Kerry Gauthier, D-7B, Duluth, RAC: 3
Marion Greene, D-60A, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
Jeffrey Hayden, D-61B, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
Leon Lillie, D-55B, North St. Paul, RAC: 11
Mary Murphy, D-6B, Hermantown, RAC: 3
Steve Simon, D-44A, St. Louis Park, RAC: 11
Nora Slawik, D-55B, Maplewood, RAC: 11
Ryan Winkler, D-44B, Golden Valley, RAC: 11
Senate – State Government Innovation and Veterans
Mike Parry, R-26, Waseca, Chair, RAC: 9,10
John Carlson, R-4, Bemidji
Ted Daley, R-38, Eagan, Vice Chair, RAC: 11
Paul Gazelka, R-12, Brainerd, RAC: 5
Ted Lillie, R-56, Lake Elmo, RAC: 11
Gen Olson, R-33, Minnetrista, RAC:11
Julianne Ortman, R-34, Chanhassen, RAC:11
Dave Thompson, R-36, Lakeville, RAC: 11
Chuck Wiger, D-55, North St. Paul, Minority Lead, RAC: 11
Dick Cohen, D-64, St. Paul, RAC: 11
Scott Dibble, D-60, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
Barb Goodwin, D-50, Columbia Heights, RAC: 11
Torres Ray, D-62, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
LEGACY FUNDING: The Legacy dollars will be handled in the smaller Legacy Funding Division in the House by Rep. Dean Urdahl (G-Grove City) under the full Environment Committee. In the Senate, it will be handled in the Environnment Committee chaired by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (G-Alexandria).
House Legacy Committee:
Dean Urdahl, R-18B, Grove City, Chair, RAC: 7W, 6/8
Deb Kiel, R-1B, Crookston, Vice Chair, RAC: 1
Tony Cornish, R-24B, Good Thunder, RAC: 9
Carol McFarlane, R-53B, North Oaks, RAC: 11
Denny McNamara, R-57B, Hastings, RAC: 11
Joyce Peppin, R-32A, Rogers, RAC: 11
Paul Torkelson, R-21B, Nelson Township, RAC 6/8, 9
David Dill, D-6A, Crane Lake, Minority Lead, RAC: 3
Ryan Winkler, D-44B, Golden Valley, RAC: 11
Marion Greene, D-60A, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
Mary Murphy, D-6B, Hermantown, RAC: 3
Jean Wagenius, D-62B, Minneapolis, RAC:11
Senate – Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-11, Alexandria, Chair, RAC: 4, 5
Dan Hall, R-40, Burnsville, Vice Chair, RAC: 11
John Carlson, R-04, Bemidji, RAC: 2, 3, 5
Gary Dahms, R-21, Redwood Falls, RAC: 6/8, 9
Paul Gazelka, R-12, Brainerd, RAC: 5
Chris Gerlach, R-37, Apple Valley, RAC: 11
Jeremy Miller, R-31, Winona, RAC: 10
John Pederson, R-15, St. Cloud, RAC: 7W
Linda Higgins, D-58, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
Ken Kelash, D-63, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
Keith Langseth, D-09, Glyndon, RAC: 4
Sandy Pappas, D-65, St. Paul, RAC: 11
Tom Saxhaug, D-03, Grand Rapids, RAC: 2,3
Rod Skoe, D-02, Clearbrook, RAC: 1, 2, 4
If you live or work in the districts of any of these legislators, particularly the GOP members who are now in charge, you are very important! Please let them know you’d like them to support the arts. You can send them a letter easily on our website at the Arts Action Center.
THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE BUDGET DEFICIT: The state’s enormous deficit is the main focus this year, which neither party seems to have a road map to solve. The reality is that the arts are a tiny, tiny fraction of the state’s budget. About 75% of the budget goes to fund education and health and human services. The decisions made about those areas will affect the outcome for the arts because they will dictate how much must be cut in the rest of the budget. Also, Gov. Dayton’s proposal to bring in new money with a “tax the rich” is already opposed by the new Republican leadership in both houses of the legislature. We have a long road ahead of us in protecting the arts in this complicated enviroment.
Stay tuned, and get ready!
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO:
  • Make your plans now to join us for Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011.
  • If your arts organization got a Legacy grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board or Regional Arts Council, make sure to mention that to your legislators if you see them in town, and talk about how important it has been to fund the arts in your area. Make sure your staff and board know how important the legacy grant has been to your organization. Make sure your local paper knows that too.
  • In a few weeks, we will start to ask you to participate in advocacy by sending email letters to your legislators. (We have a very easy to use on-line system). We may have an event in your district with your legislators to make sure they understand the importance of the arts. Please say “yes!” when you are asked to take action. We are infinitely stronger together when we sing with one voice.
    Map & Website of Legacy Grants
    The State of Minnesota is creating a one-stop website for information about where the money from all four Legacy funds (land, water, parks and arts) is going, so you can search by county or by topic. It still doesn’t include all the 2500+ arts grants in its search function, but eventually it should all be in there. Check it out at: www.legacy.leg.mn
    Our Field Worker Josh Wise has created a great map that shows how Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council grants have reached every corner of the state. You can zoom in to see grants community-by-community. Check it out here:
    http://www.batchgeo.com/map/MSAB-and-RAC-Grants
    ——————————————————————

    RESOURCES

    Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.  JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

    TWITTER: @MnCitizen
    FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
    YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
    GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s
    store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
    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 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!
    PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to
    anyone.
    ABOUT: 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.



    Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

    arts alert: Legislators Discuss Diverting Legacy Money

    Monday, January 31st, 2011
    arts alert: Legislators Discuss Diverting Legacy Money
    arts alert / arts alert / arts alert /arts alert / arts alert
    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
    @MnCitizen
    Arts Action Center
    January 31, 2011

    1. Legislators Discuss Diverting Legacy Funds
    2. Join Us: Alexandria Hosting “Legacy Weekend” Feb. 11-13
    3. VIDEO: “Arts Advocacy Rouser” Urges You To Come to Arts Advocacy Day, March 8

    4. Background: Arts in Two Committees
    5. Map & Website of Legacy Grants

    ——————————————
    1. Legislators Discuss Diverting Legacy Funds
    A recent article in Politics in Minnesota contained some rather alarming quotes from legislators discussing a desire to divert Legacy funds from their intended uses:

    “Powerful environmental committee chairs like GOP Rep. Denny McNamara and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen say they hope to shield the dollars from general fund budget discussions, while others – like Rukavina and GOP Rep. Steve Drazkowski – question the way the money is being used.  Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Claire Robling said she is “proceeding cautiously,” but looking closely at ways the money could be used creatively without violating constitutional mandates…


    “DFL Rep. Ryan Winkler, an attorney from Golden Valley who sits on the Legacy Funding Division Committee, said he imagines some legislators will get “as close to the line as they can without getting sued.” He said he can see why some lawmakers might want to look to the dollars given the deficit. “It’s a large pot of money out there…
    Legacy allies
    “Going after the money will be difficult. The amendment has strong allies in the ranks of the legislators, including former DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, who was the chief author of the bill. Pogemiller said there are enough people in the Senate, Democrat and Republican alike, who are willing to protect the money. That includes Ingebrigtsen, the chairman of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. In a recent Star Tribune article, Ingebrigtsen said he would try his “hardest” to assure the money is spent appropriately.
    “Pogemiller said: “I will work with Sen. Ingebrigtsen and others to make sure we don’t slide into supplantation. That’s the concern – that you backslide into it. I don’t think anyone would overtly do it.””
    A recent poll conducted by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership found that “Two-thirds of Minnesotans say we must not let elected officials raid constitutionally dedicated conservation funds to solve short-term state budget problems.”
    This is great news, because we have the public on our side in protecting the Legacy Amendment. To make sure that legislators stay true to the intent of voters in passing the Amendment in November, 2008, MCA will be working hard at the legislature educating all those new legislators about the language of the Amendment and the will of the public to protect it. You can help us  by coming to Arts Advocacy Day on March 8. See sign-up info. below :

    ——————————————
    2. Join Us: Alexandria Hosting “Legacy Weekend” Feb. 11-13
    We are happy to announce the next Legacy Weekend, to be held in Alexandria/Glenwood! MCA has created, along with Conservation Minnesota and ExploreMN, a series of “Legacy Weekends” that will be held once each month for the next year, highlighting all the great things being funded by the Legacy Amendment around the state. Next stop: Alexandria!  If you are in the area, please join us for a reception at AAAA Theatre at 5:30 on Saturday, Feb. 12. We’d love to see you there.
    To learn more about Legacy Weekends across the state, check out: http://www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-ideas/legacy/index.aspx
    Here’s more info:
    Alexandria and Glenwood Showcase Cultural and Outdoor Events during “Legacy Weekend” February 11-13

    The cities of Alexandria and Glenwood are joining forces to attract local and state visitors to provide a unique weekend of engaging arts, history and outdoor events February 11-13. The Alexandria / Glenwood area is fortunate to have strong arts, historical and cultural events year round and beautiful parks, lakes and prairies to enjoy throughout the year.  This unique weekend will combine events to highlight the impacts of funding provided through the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment approved by Minnesota voters in 2008.
    The Alexandria/Glenwood area has seen critical investments in arts, outdoors and historical projects to organizations from grants in 2010 from the Legacy Amendment.  Both Douglas and Pope Counties have received these Legacy funds through organizations to include but not limited to:  Minnesota Historical Society, Lake Region Arts Council, and Pope County Soil and Water Conservation District.
    This statewide program is being overseen by three Minnesota statewide organizations to really draw local attention to our Legacy funding in action on a much more impactful and personal level.  They are:  Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Conservation Minnesota and Explore Minnesota Tourism.
    Alexandria & Glenwood’s “Legacy Weekend” is being organized locally by Alexandria Hotel & Hospitality in partnership with Alexandria Area Arts Association, The Pope County Historical Society, The Douglas County Library, The Ann Bickle Heritage House, School District 206 Community Education, Lake Carlos State Park and the Sertoma/Viking Sportsmen’s Ice Fishing Challenge.
    “Our community is so fortunate to have so many things to offer.  Local residents and people throughout the State of Minnesota will be shown how the Legacy funds were used locally.”  Sara Stadtherr, AHH.
    (For more information on dates, times & locations, go to www.ExploreAlex.com/LegacyDestinations )
    • Alexandria Area Arts Association is offering three productions of the Dixie Swim Club. In Dixie Swim Club, the five characters have been friends since meeting as teammates on their college swim team.  They have had a yearly reunion  since college at a cottage on the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  The audience joins the reunions when the women are ages 44, 49, 54, and 77.  We are treated to a privileged glimpse into their prospective lives.
    • The Ann Bickle Heritage House and Pope County Historical Society are hosting      guided tours of this nationally recognized house and the museum which      features the Smithsonian worthy Helbing Collection of Native American Arts and Crafts.
    • The Sertoma Club & Viking Sportsmen is holding their 11th Annual Ice Fishing Challenge on Lake Agnes.  This is Minnesota’s 2nd largest ice fishing tournament and features all cash prizes!
    • Lake Carlos State Park is offering Candlelight Skiing and Snowshoeing.  Ski or snowshoe by moonlight along the candle lit trails of Lake Carlos. Warm up by the wood stove and enjoy refreshments afterward in the shelter.
    • Community Education is offering special classes for winter weekend cheer: Wine & Chocolate Tasting from around the World, sure to delight your taste buds and a clay workshop to make your own drinking vessel to enhance the season, Containing Winter’s Libations: From Demitasse to Tankards.
    • Douglas County Library will showcase its new Minnesota Bookshelf, and display photos of another Legacy project: Evansville Arts Coalition’s Flying Pieces of Art.
    In addition, there will be:
    • DATA snowmobiling trail rides.
    • Winterama:  Children’s activities on the ice, a Polar Plunge and minnow eating contest.  Just outside Lakeside Ballroom Restaurant, on Lake Minnewaska.
    The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, passed by Minnesota voters in 2008, provide financial support for a variety of conservation, parks and cultural programs. The event is part of a monthly series being held in “Legacy Destination” communities throughout Minnesota to highlight local cultural and outdoor opportunities by drawing residents and visitors to an eclectic assortment of fun activities.
    ——————————————

    3. VIDEO: “Arts Advocacy Rouser” Urges You To Come to Arts Advocacy Day, March 8

    Arts  Advocacy Day will be really important this year as we work to protect  the arts in the face of Minnesota’s huge deficit. BE A PART OF THE  ACTION at MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011. We start with a rally and then split into teams to talk to legislators about why they should support the arts. Arts people from every corner of the state come together in St. Paul. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year, so sign up now on our website at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org. Join us!
    MCA’s Field Worker Josh Wise has written a very fun “Arts Advocacy Rouser” to encourage people to advocate for the arts. Here’s a sample verse:
    “We aim to bring the arts to everyone
    And in two thousand eight we got it done
    We put the arts in Minnesota’s constitution
    The Legacy Amendment makes us number one!”

    ——————————————


    4. Background: Arts Now in Two Committees
    The Legislature has begun hearings on the state’s budget, and we expect the arts will be up for review soon. We have confirmed that arts funding has ended up in two committees:
    REGULAR FUNDING: Arts funding has been split in half. The regular arts funding, which comes from the General Fund, will be considered by the full State Government Innovation & Veterans Budget & Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Parry (G-Waseca) in the Senate and Rep. Morrie Lanning (Moorhead) in the House. Here are the members:
    House – State Government Finance
    Morrie Lanning, R-9A, Moorhead, Chair, RAC: 4
    Mike Benson, R-30A, Rochester, Vice Chair, RAC: 10
    King Banaian, R-15B, St. Cloud, RAC: 7W
    Bob Gunther, R-24A, Fairmont, RAC: 9
    Bruce Anderson, R-19A, Buffalo, RAC: 7W
    Keith Downey, R-41A, Edina, RAC: 11
    Ernie Leidiger, R-34A, Mayer, RAC: 11
    Kathy Lohmer, R-56A, Lake Elmo, RAC: 11
    Carolyn McElfatrick, R-3B, Deer River, RAC: 3
    Rich Murray, R-27A, Albert Lea, RAC: 10
    Kurt Stensrud, R-42A, Eden Prairie, RAC: 11
    Dean Urdahl, R-18B, Grove City, RAC: 7W, 6/8
    Phyllis Kahn, D-59B, Minneapolis, Minority Lead, RAC: 11
    Kerry Gauthier, D-7B, Duluth, RAC: 3
    Marion Greene, D-60A, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Jeffrey Hayden, D-61B, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Leon Lillie, D-55B, North St. Paul, RAC: 11
    Mary Murphy, D-6B, Hermantown, RAC: 3
    Steve Simon, D-44A, St. Louis Park, RAC: 11
    Nora Slawik, D-55B, Maplewood, RAC: 11
    Ryan Winkler, D-44B, Golden Valley, RAC: 11
    Senate – State Government Innovation and Veterans
    Mike Parry, R-26, Waseca, Chair, RAC: 9,10
    John Carlson, R-4, Bemidji
    Ted Daley, R-38, Eagan, Vice Chair, RAC: 11
    Paul Gazelka, R-12, Brainerd, RAC: 5
    Ted Lillie, R-56, Lake Elmo, RAC: 11
    Gen Olson, R-33, Minnetrista, RAC:11
    Julianne Ortman, R-34, Chanhassen, RAC:11
    Dave Thompson, R-36, Lakeville, RAC: 11
    Chuck Wiger, D-55, North St. Paul, Minority Lead, RAC: 11
    Dick Cohen, D-64, St. Paul, RAC: 11
    Scott Dibble, D-60, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Barb Goodwin, D-50, Columbia Heights, RAC: 11
    Torres Ray, D-62, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    LEGACY FUNDING: The Legacy dollars will be handled in the smaller Legacy Funding Division in the House by Rep. Dean Urdahl (G-Grove City) under the full Environment Committee. In the Senate, it will be handled in the Environnment Committee chaired by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (G-Alexandria).
    House Legacy Committee:
    Dean Urdahl, R-18B, Grove City, Chair, RAC: 7W, 6/8
    Deb Kiel, R-1B, Crookston, Vice Chair, RAC: 1
    Tony Cornish, R-24B, Good Thunder, RAC: 9
    Carol McFarlane, R-53B, North Oaks, RAC: 11
    Denny McNamara, R-57B, Hastings, RAC: 11
    Joyce Peppin, R-32A, Rogers, RAC: 11
    Paul Torkelson, R-21B, Nelson Township, RAC 6/8, 9
    David Dill, D-6A, Crane Lake, Minority Lead, RAC: 3
    Ryan Winkler, D-44B, Golden Valley, RAC: 11
    Marion Greene, D-60A, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Mary Murphy, D-6B, Hermantown, RAC: 3
    Jean Wagenius, D-62B, Minneapolis, RAC:11
    Senate – Environment and Natural Resources Finance
    Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-11, Alexandria, Chair, RAC: 4, 5
    Dan Hall, R-40, Burnsville, Vice Chair, RAC: 11
    John Carlson, R-04, Bemidji, RAC: 2, 3, 5
    Gary Dahms, R-21, Redwood Falls, RAC: 6/8, 9
    Paul Gazelka, R-12, Brainerd, RAC: 5
    Chris Gerlach, R-37, Apple Valley, RAC: 11
    Jeremy Miller, R-31, Winona, RAC: 10
    John Pederson, R-15, St. Cloud, RAC: 7W
    Linda Higgins, D-58, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Ken Kelash, D-63, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Keith Langseth, D-09, Glyndon, RAC: 4
    Sandy Pappas, D-65, St. Paul, RAC: 11
    Tom Saxhaug, D-03, Grand Rapids, RAC: 2,3
    Rod Skoe, D-02, Clearbrook, RAC: 1, 2, 4
    If you live or work in the districts of any of these legislators, particularly the GOP members who are now in charge, you are very important! Please let them know you’d like them to support the arts. You can send them a letter easily on our website at the Arts Action Center.
    THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE BUDGET DEFICIT: The state’s enormous deficit is the main focus this year, which neither party seems to have a road map to solve. The reality is that the arts are a tiny, tiny fraction of the state’s budget. About 75% of the budget goes to fund education and health and human services. The decisions made about those areas will affect the outcome for the arts because they will dictate how much must be cut in the rest of the budget. Also, Gov. Dayton’s proposal to bring in new money with a “tax the rich” is already opposed by the new Republican leadership in both houses of the legislature. We have a long road ahead of us in protecting the arts in this complicated enviroment.
    Stay tuned, and get ready!
    WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO:
    • Make your plans now to join us for Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011.
    • If your arts organization got a Legacy grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board or Regional Arts Council, make sure to mention that to your legislators if you see them in town, and talk about how important it has been to fund the arts in your area. Make sure your staff and board know how important the legacy grant has been to your organization. Make sure your local paper knows that too.
    • In a few weeks, we will start to ask you to participate in advocacy by sending email letters to your legislators. (We have a very easy to use on-line system). We may have an event in your district with your legislators to make sure they understand the importance of the arts. Please say “yes!” when you are asked to take action. We are infinitely stronger together when we sing with one voice.

    ——————————————

    5. Map & Website of Legacy Grants
    The State of Minnesota is creating a one-stop website for information about where the money from all four Legacy funds (land, water, parks and arts) is going, so you can search by county or by topic. It still doesn’t include all the 2500+ arts grants in its search function, but eventually it should all be in there. Check it out at: www.legacy.leg.mn
    Our Field Worker Josh Wise has created a great map that shows how Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council grants have reached every corner of the state. You can zoom in to see grants community-by-community. Check it out here:

    ——————————————————————

    RESOURCES

    Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

    TWITTER: @MnCitizen
    FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
    YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
    GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
    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 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!
    PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.
    ABOUT: 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.

    Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

    arts alert: Legacy Weekend Project Will Spotlight Grants Around the State

    Thursday, January 27th, 2011

    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
    @MnCitizen
    Arts Action Center

    January 27, 2011

    Legacy Weekend Project Will Spotlight Grants Around the State

    Minnesota Cities to Hold Legacy Weekends to Showcase Amendment-Funded Projects

    (Nisswa) –Minnesotans can add a dozen unique festivals to their travel plans this year. Twelve communities will celebrate engaging arts, history, and outdoor events during Legacy Destination Weekends around the state. The announcement came at the 2011 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference by Conservation Minnesota, Explore Minnesota, and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.

    “Minnesotans voted to dedicate funds to our state’s great resources,” said Paul Austin, Executive Director of Conservation Minnesota, “and now they’ll see first-hand how the Legacy Amendment’s dedicated funds are protecting the state they love.”

    Each month in 2011, one community will showcase its lakes, parks, trails, arts, and history assets that received funding through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment (CWLLA) passed in 2008. “Legacy Destination” communities throughout Minnesota will highlight local cultural and outdoor opportunities by drawing residents and visitors to an eclectic assortment of fun activities.

    More than $211 M has been awarded statewide to clean up rivers and lakes, create trails, protect historical items, and fund art and history projects across the state. An independent analysis of Fiscal Year 2010 spending showed 74 percent of those funds were distributed to statewide programs and resulted in, among other things, 40 percent of the state’s lakes being tested for water quality.

    “Great things in both the outdoors and the arts are happening in every corner of the state because of the Legacy Amendment,” said Sheila Smith, Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, ”and we wanted Minnesotans to know how they can participate.”

    Each community’s events will vary across the state, but will include activities such as live theater, music, fishing tournaments, boating, and historic tours. Promotion for the Legacy Destinations will include a yearlong marketing campaign including posters at Travelers Information Centers across Minnesota (poster attached below). Visitors can also click on the Legacy Destination Weekends website for a full list of weekends and currently planned activities at http://exploreminnesota.com/legacy

    “Explore Minnesota is excited about promoting the 2011 Legacy Destinations,” said John Edman, Director of Explore Minnesota Tourism. “The program offers unique opportunities for residents and visitors to experience distinct natural and cultural assets throughout the state.”

    The first Legacy Weekend of the year will be held in Alexandria, MN on Feb. 11-13, 2011.

    The schedule for Legacy Destinations:

    2011
    February – Alexandria – February 11-13
    March – St. Paul -March 29-April 3
    April –Crookston – April 15-17
    May –Bemidji – April 28-May 1
    June – Lanesboro- June 18-25
    July – Winona- July 15-17
    August – Rochester- August 19-21
    September – Park Rapids – September 24-25
    October – Fergus Falls – October 14-15
    November – Cook County- November 17-20
    December – Minneapolis – December 3-4
    For more information on all the weekends: http://exploreminnesota.com/legacy

    Poster: http://www.theamendment.org/track/news/?catID=56&id=5620

    Alexandria and Glenwood Showcase Cultural and Outdoor Events during First 2011“Legacy Weekend” February 11-13

    The cities of Alexandria and Glenwood are joining forces to attract local and state visitors to provide a unique weekend of engaging arts, history and outdoor events February 11-13. The Alexandria / Glenwood area is fortunate to have strong arts, historical and cultural events year round and beautiful parks, lakes and prairies to enjoy throughout the year. This unique weekend will combine events to highlight the impacts of funding provided through the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment approved by Minnesota voters in 2008.

    The Alexandria/Glenwood area has seen critical investments in arts, outdoors and historical projects to organizations from grants in 2010 from the Legacy Amendment. Both Douglas and Pope Counties have received these Legacy funds through organizations to include but not limited to: Minnesota Historical Society, Lake Region Arts Council, and Pope County Soil and Water Conservation District.

    Alexandria & Glenwood’s “Legacy Weekend” is being organized locally by Alexandria Hotel & Hospitality in partnership with Alexandria Area Arts Association, The Pope County Historical Society, The Douglas County Library, The Ann Bickle Heritage House, School District 206 Community Education, Lake Carlos State Park and the Sertoma/Viking Sportsmen’s Ice Fishing Challenge.

    “Our community is so fortunate to have so many things to offer. Local residents and people throughout the State of Minnesota will be shown how the Legacy funds were used locally.” Sara Stadtherr, AHH.

    (For more information on dates, times & locations for the Alexandria/Glenwood weekend, go to www.ExploreAlex.com/LegacyDestination)

    • Alexandria Area Arts Association is offering three productions of the Dixie Swim Club. In Dixie Swim Club, the five characters have been friends since meeting as teammates on their college swim team. They have had a yearly reunion since college at a cottage on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The audience joins the reunions when the women are ages 44, 49, 54, and 77. We are treated to a privileged glimpse into their prospective lives.
    • The Ann Bickle Heritage House and Pope County Historical Society are hosting guided tours of this nationally recognized house and the museum which features the Smithsonian worthy Helbing Collection of Native American Arts and Crafts.
    • The Sertoma Club & Viking Sportsmen is holding their 11th Annual Ice Fishing Challenge on Lake Agnes. This is Minnesota’s 2nd largest ice fishing tournament and features all cash prizes!
    • Lake Carlos State Park is offering Candlelight Skiing and Snowshoeing. Ski or snowshoe by moonlight along the candle lit trails of Lake Carlos. Warm up by the wood stove and enjoy refreshments afterward in the shelter.
    • Community Education is offering special classes for winter weekend cheer: Wine & Chocolate Tasting from around the World, sure to delight your taste buds and a clay workshop to make your own drinking vessel to enhance the season, Containing Winter’s Libations: From Demitasse to Tankards.
    • Douglas County Library will showcase its new Minnesota Bookshelf, and display photos of another Legacy project: Evansville Arts Coalition’s Flying Pieces of Art.
    In addition, there will be:
    • DATA snowmobiling trail rides.
    • Winterama: Children’s activities on the ice, a Polar Plunge and minnow eating contest. Just outside Lakeside Ballroom Restaurant, on Lake Minnewaska.

    ——————————————————————

    RESOURCES

    Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

    JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

    PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.
    ABOUT: 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.

    Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

    Poll Shows Minnesotans Oppose Any Attempt to Raid Legacy Funds

    Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

    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
    @MnCitizen
    Arts Action Center

    January 21, 2011

    1. Poll Shows Minnesotans Oppose Raids on Legacy Funds
    2. New Video: “Arts Advocacy Rouser” is Our New Theme Song
    3. Register Now: Arts Advocacy Day Will Be March 8, 2011
    4. Legislature’s Hearings Begin: Arts in Two Committees
    5. Check Out New Map of State Arts Grants
    ——————————————

    1. Poll Shows Minnesotans Oppose Raids on Legacy Funds

    A recent poll conducted by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership found that “Two-thirds of Minnesotans say we must not let elected officials raid constitutionally dedicated conservation funds to solve short-term state budget problems.”

    This is great news, because we have the public on our side in protecting the Legacy Amendment. To make sure that legislators stay true to the intent of voters in passing the Amendment in November, 2008, MCA will be working hard at the legislature educating all those new legislators about the language of the Amendment and the will of the public to protect it.

    ——————————————

    2. New Video: “Arts Advocacy Rouser” will be Advocacy Day’s Theme Song

    MCA’s Field Worker Josh Wise has written a very fun “Arts Advocacy Rouser” to encourage people to advocate for the arts. Here’s a sample verse:

    “We aim to bring the arts to everyone
    And in two thousand eight we got it done
    We put the arts in Minnesota’s constitution
    The Legacy Amendment makes us number one!”

    Watch now at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org!

    ——————————————

    3. Save the Date: Arts Advocacy Day Will Be March 8, 2011

    Arts Advocacy Day will be really important this year as we work to protect the arts in the face of Minnesota’s huge deficit. BE A PART OF THE ACTION at MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011. We start with a rally and then split into teams to talk to legislators about why they should support the arts. Arts people from every corner of the state come together in St. Paul. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year, so sign up now on our website at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org. Join us!

    ——————————————

    4. Legislature’s Hearings Begin: Arts in Two Committees

    The Legislature has begun hearings on the state’s budget, and we expect the arts will be up for review soon. We have confirmed that arts funding has ended up in two committees:

    REGULAR FUNDING: Arts funding has been split in half. The regular arts funding, which comes from the General Fund, will be considered by the full State Government Innovation & Veterans Budget & Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Parry (G-Waseca) in the Senate and Rep. Morrie Lanning (Moorhead) in the House. Here are the members:

    House – State Government Finance

    Morrie Lanning, R-9A, Moorhead, Chair, RAC: 4
    Mike Benson, R-30A, Rochester, Vice Chair, RAC: 10
    King Banaian, R-15B, St. Cloud, RAC: 7W
    Bob Gunther, R-24A, Fairmont, RAC: 9
    Bruce Anderson, R-19A, Buffalo, RAC: 7W
    Keith Downey, R-41A, Edina, RAC: 11
    Ernie Leidiger, R-34A, Mayer, RAC: 11
    Kathy Lohmer, R-56A, Lake Elmo, RAC: 11
    Carolyn McElfatrick, R-3B, Deer River, RAC: 3
    Rich Murray, R-27A, Albert Lea, RAC: 10
    Kurt Stensrud, R-42A, Eden Prairie, RAC: 11
    Dean Urdahl, R-18B, Grove City, RAC: 7W, 6/8
    Phyllis Kahn, D-59B, Minneapolis, Minority Lead, RAC: 11
    Kerry Gauthier, D-7B, Duluth, RAC: 3
    Marion Greene, D-60A, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Jeffrey Hayden, D-61B, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Leon Lillie, D-55B, North St. Paul, RAC: 11
    Mary Murphy, D-6B, Hermantown, RAC: 3
    Steve Simon, D-44A, St. Louis Park, RAC: 11
    Nora Slawik, D-55B, Maplewood, RAC: 11
    Ryan Winkler, D-44B, Golden Valley, RAC: 11

    Senate – State Government Innovation and Veterans

    Mike Parry, R-26, Waseca, Chair, RAC: 9,10
    John Carlson, R-4, Bemidji
    Ted Daley, R-38, Eagan, Vice Chair, RAC: 11
    Paul Gazelka, R-12, Brainerd, RAC: 5
    Ted Lillie, R-56, Lake Elmo, RAC: 11
    Gen Olson, R-33, Minnetrista, RAC:11
    Julianne Ortman, R-34, Chanhassen, RAC:11
    Dave Thompson, R-36, Lakeville, RAC: 11
    Chuck Wiger, D-55, North St. Paul, Minority Lead, RAC: 11
    Dick Cohen, D-64, St. Paul, RAC: 11
    Scott Dibble, D-60, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Barb Goodwin, D-50, Columbia Heights, RAC: 11
    Torres Ray, D-62, Minneapolis, RAC: 11

    LEGACY FUNDING: The Legacy dollars will be handled in the smaller Legacy Funding Division in the House by Rep. Dean Urdahl (G-Grove City) under the full Environment Committee. In the Senate, it will be handled in the Environnment Committee chaired by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (G-Alexandria).

    House Legacy Committee:

    Dean Urdahl, R-18B, Grove City, Chair, RAC: 7W, 6/8
    Deb Kiel, R-1B, Crookston, Vice Chair, RAC: 1
    Tony Cornish, R-24B, Good Thunder, RAC: 9
    Carol McFarlane, R-53B, North Oaks, RAC: 11
    Denny McNamara, R-57B, Hastings, RAC: 11
    Joyce Peppin, R-32A, Rogers, RAC: 11
    Paul Torkelson, R-21B, Nelson Township, RAC 6/8, 9
    David Dill, D-6A, Crane Lake, Minority Lead, RAC: 3
    Ryan Winkler, D-44B, Golden Valley, RAC: 11
    Marion Greene, D-60A, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Mary Murphy, D-6B, Hermantown, RAC: 3
    Jean Wagenius, D-62B, Minneapolis, RAC:11

    Senate – Environment and Natural Resources Finance

    Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-11, Alexandria, Chair, RAC: 4, 5
    Dan Hall, R-40, Burnsville, Vice Chair, RAC: 11
    John Carlson, R-04, Bemidji, RAC: 2, 3, 5
    Gary Dahms, R-21, Redwood Falls, RAC: 6/8, 9
    Paul Gazelka, R-12, Brainerd, RAC: 5
    Chris Gerlach, R-37, Apple Valley, RAC: 11
    Jeremy Miller, R-31, Winona, RAC: 10
    John Pederson, R-15, St. Cloud, RAC: 7W
    Linda Higgins, D-58, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Ken Kelash, D-63, Minneapolis, RAC: 11
    Keith Langseth, D-09, Glyndon, RAC: 4
    Sandy Pappas, D-65, St. Paul, RAC: 11
    Tom Saxhaug, D-03, Grand Rapids, RAC: 2,3
    Rod Skoe, D-02, Clearbrook, RAC: 1, 2, 4

    If you live or work in the districts of any of these legislators, particularly the GOP members who are now in charge, you are very important! Please let them know you’d like them to support the arts. You can send them a letter easily on our website at the Arts Action Center.

    THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE BUDGET DEFICIT: The state’s enormous deficit is the main focus this year, which neither party seems to have a road map to solve. The reality is that the arts are a tiny, tiny fraction of the state’s budget. About 75% of the budget goes to fund education and health and human services. The decisions made about those areas will affect the outcome for the arts because they will dictate how much must be cut in the rest of the budget. Also, Gov. Dayton’s proposal to bring in new money with a “tax the rich” is already opposed by the new Republican leadership in both houses of the legislature. We have a long road ahead of us in protecting the arts in this complicated enviroment. Stay tuned, and get ready!

    WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO:

    • Make your plans now to join us for Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011.
    • If your arts organization got a Legacy grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board or Regional Arts Council, make sure to mention that to your legislators if you see them in town, and talk about how important it has been to fund the arts in your area. Make sure your staff and board know how important the legacy grant has been to your organization. Make sure your local paper knows that too.
    • In a few weeks, we will start to ask you to participate in advocacy by sending email letters to your legislators. (We have a very easy to use on-line system). We may have an event in your district with your legislators to make sure they understand the importance of the arts. Please say “yes!” when you are asked to take action. We are infinitely stronger together when we sing with one voice.

    ——————————————

    5. Check Out New Map of State Arts Grants

    Our Field Worker Josh Wise has created a great map that shows how Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council grants have reached every corner of the state. You can zoom in to see grants community-by-community. Check it out here:

    http://www.batchgeo.com/map/MSAB-and-RAC-Grants

    ——————————————————————

    RESOURCES

    Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.  JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

    TWITTER: @MnCitizen

    FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts

    YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts

    GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts

    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 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!

    PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.

    ABOUT: 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.

    Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

    arts alert: $6 Billion Deficit and New Legislature; What You Can Do to Help the Arts

    Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

    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

    @MnCitizen

    Arts Action Center

    January 4, 2011

    1. Save the Date: Arts Advocacy Day Will Be March 8, 2011

    2. $6.2 Billion Deficit and New Legislature; What You Can Do to Help the Arts

    3. DNR Approves New Logo for Legacy Projects

    4. MCA Hiring Interns Now

    ——————————————

    1. Save the Date: Arts Advocacy Day Will Be March 8, 2011

    The Legislative Session starts today and we are gearing up for a big grassroots push to protect the arts. BE A PART OF THE ACTION at MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011. We start with a rally and then split into teams to talk to legislators about why they should support the arts. Arts people from every corner of the state come together in St. Paul. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year, so save the date! You can sign up now on our website at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org. Join us!

    ——————————————

    2. $6.2 Billion Deficit and New Legislature; What You Can Do to Help the Arts

    Today the new legislature convenes, yesterday the new Governor was sworn in. There are a lot of changes at the State Capitol that may affect the arts. Even a larger issue than the changes in personnel and power is that the state has announced a $6.2 billion deficit, which represents just under 20% of the state’s overall budget. Here’s how it will all affect us:

    NEW GOVERNOR: Mark Dayton (D) was sworn in as the new Governor yesterday, bringing with him a very long history of support for the arts both as a U.S. Senator and in his private life. The Dayton family has been a pillar of support for the arts in Minnesota. The Governor is charged with creating the first draft of the state’s budget and presenting it to the legislature within a month or so.

    NEW HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP: Republicans have taken control in both the MN House and Senate and have elected new leadership. The new Speaker of the House is Rep. Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove), and the new Majority Leader of the Senate is Sen. Amy Koch (R-Buffalo). They have set up a new committee structure that changes how arts funding will be managed.

    NEW COMMITTEES, COMMITTEE CHAIRS, AND MEMBERS: Arts funding has been split in half. The regular arts funding, which comes from the General Fund, will be considered by the full State Government Innovation & Veterans Budget & Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Parry (G-Waseca) in the Senate and Rep. Morrie Lanning (Moorhead) in the House. The Legacy dollars will be handled in the smaller Legacy Funding Division in the House by Rep. Dean Urdahl (G-Grove City). It is not clear if there is a smaller Legacy Funding Division in the Senate. If not, the Legacy dollars in the Senate will also be handled by the full State Government Committee under Sen. Mike Parry. All of these committees have a new list of members who we will need to educate about the importance of the arts to Minnesota.

    THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE BUDGET DEFICIT: While these structural changes will complicate matters a bit, the most important issue is really the state’s enormous deficit, which neither party seems to have a road map to solve. The reality is that the arts are a tiny, tiny fraction of the state’s budget. About 75% of the budget goes to fund education and health and human services. The decisions made about those areas will affect the outcome for the arts because they will dictate how much must be cut in the rest of the budget. Also, Gov. Dayton’s proposal to bring in new money with a “tax the rich” is already opposed by the new Republican leadership in both houses of the legislature. We have a long road ahead of us in protecting the arts in this complicated enviroment. Stay tuned, and get ready!

    WHAT YOU CAN DO:

    • Make your plans now to join us for Arts Advocacy Day on March 8, 2011.
    • If your arts organization got a Legacy grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board or Regional Arts Council, make sure to mention that to your legislators if you see them in town, and talk about how important it has been to fund the arts in your area. Make sure your staff and board know how important the legacy grant has been to your organization. Make sure your local paper knows that too.
    • In a few weeks, we will start to ask you to participate in advocacy by sending email letters to your legislators. (We have a very easy to use on-line system). We may have an event in your district with your legislators to make sure they understand the importance of the arts. Please say “yes!” when you are asked to take action. We are infinitely stronger together when we sing with one voice.

    ——————————————

      3. DNR Approves New Logo for Legacy Projects

      The DNR has finally approved the official logo for the Legacy Amendment. It must be included on anything funded by the amendment. More info here:

      http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110104/NEWS01/101030055/1009/St.-Cloud-woman-s-design-wins-Legacy-Amendment-logo-contest

      ——————————————

      4. MCA Hiring Interns Now

      MCA is hiring interns! We are looking for two good people, who will help us organize Arts Advocacy Day, organize our Campus Arts Advocate program, and do a little social media for us. Here’s the scoop:

      Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a nationally renowned arts advocacy organization that lobbies for state arts funding, seeks an intern to begin on January 17th. The positions are part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week), and pays a small hourly stipend.

      MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year.

      Interns will have exposure to and opportunities to interact with some of the movers and shakers in the arts community, as well as a working knowledge of the legislative process, arts funding structures in Minnesota and the basic functions of running a nonprofit.

      Duties and projects which may be included in the internship:

      · Help develop MCA’s social media strategies on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and execute projects to increase organzation’s presence on the web.

      · Work with staff on current projects including grassroots organizing, candidate meetings, voter education, board meeting preparation, filing and data entry.

      A qualified applicant would possess the following skills:

      -Knowledge of social media sites Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

      -Understanding of the political process. Past political experience preferred.

      -Interest in working with the arts community.

      -Good communication skills, especially speaking with people on the phone.

      -A self-starting, positive, self-motivated personality and a sense of humor.

      -Good organizational skills and the ability to perform many tasks simultaneously.

      -Computer literacy; preferably experience with Macintosh, Microsoft Word & Excel.

      -Independent and creative work habits.

      APPLY NOW.

      For either position, please mail or email resume and cover letter by January 11, 2011 to: Mark Albers, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2233 University Avenue West, Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114 staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

      ——————————————————————

      RESOURCES

      Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.  JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

      TWITTER: @MnCitizen

      FACEBOOK: Search for: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts

      YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts

      GIVE COOL ARTS ADVOCATE GIFTS from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts

      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 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!

      PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.

      ABOUT: 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.

      Posted in 2011, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

      arts alert: How Will the Election Affect the Arts?

      Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

      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
      @MnCitizen
      Arts Action Center

      November 8 , 2010

      1. How Will Election Affect the Arts?

      2. Join Us For MCA’s Annual Meeting November 15

      3. Legacy Logo Design Contest Launched by DNR

      4. Arts Education Survey to be Conducted

      5. Nominate Your Arts Heroes for Sally Awards

      ——————————————————————

      1. How Will Election Affect the Arts?

      If there is one thing that is constant in this world, it is change. Last week’s election outcome will mean lots of changes in both the State Legislature and in Congress, as well as the Governor’s office. How will all of this affect the arts?

      ARTS CHAMPIONS LEAVING THE STAGE
      Between retirements and election losses, a number of great arts advocates will no longer be at the legislature. Chief among them is Sen. Dennis Frederickson of New Ulm, a long-time MCA Arts All Star, who kept our old “Got Art?” poster framed in his office and who went out of his way on many occasions to make sure that the arts were protected both in Legacy amendment fights and in appropriations. He will be very much missed! Other friends of the arts who are leaving the Senate include Senators Tarryl Clark, Steve Dille, and Jim Vickerman. In the House, we will very much miss Arts All Star Rep. Loren Solberg, as well as arts-friendly members Mary Ellen Otremba, Dan Severson, and Robin Brown, as well as Speaker Margaret Anderson-Kelliher, who was pivotal in ensuring that the arts remained part of the Legacy Amendment. If you live in their districts, please send them a thank-you note for their years of hard work at the legislature on behalf of the arts.

      NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP
      With a shift of control from Democrats to Republicans in both the House and Senate, we will see new faces in control of both houses. In the Senate, Sen. Amy Koch (G-Buffalo) becomes the new Majority Leader, with Sen. Tom Bakk (D-Cook) stepping up to become Minority Leader. In the House, new Speaker Rep. Kurt Zellers (G-Maple Grove) will lead the House with Majority Leader Rep. Matt Dean (G-Dellwood/Stillwater). The House minority caucus will be led by Rep. Paul Thissen (D-Mpls). With these all-new faces at the helm, expect to see big changes in how the legislature is organized. Both sides will create a new and different committee structures, and the majority parties will appoint new Chairs to lead those new committees. So, if you are asking how will these new leaders treat the arts? It’s way too early to tell. It will take probably into the new year before we learn who will chair and serve on the committtees that oversee the arts. In the meantime, if you are a constituent of any of these new leaders, congratulate them on their new posts and tell them that you want them to protect the arts next session.

      NEW GOVERNOR
      One thing that does look like good news for the arts is Governor-Elect Dayton. What, you say? Isn’t there a recount in the Governor’s race? Yes, there is. But most election observers are saying that overturning the 8600 vote lead that Mr. Dayton has over Mr. Emmer is very unlikely. So, for now, we will assume that Mark Dayton will be Minnesota’s next governor. Why is this good news for the arts? Because he, as well as his family, have spent their entire lives being great arts advocates. See Mr. Dayton talk about his support for the arts in our pre-election video here: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/governor-candidates/. At this point, the recount is expected to end on Dec. 14.

      THEY STILL HAVE A TERRIBLE BUDGET DEFICIT
      The election doesn’t change the fact that the state has a $6 billion budget deficit that the legislature and governor must solve next year. To give you some context, if the budget is balanced using only cuts, every single line of the state budget would have to be reduced by about 17%. With Republicans in control of both the House and Senate and both vowing not to raise taxes, the likelihood is that it will be resolved more with cuts than with tax increases. I don’t categorically eliminate taxes (or “fees”) from the equation simply because Governor Elect Dayton’s position was that we should raise some taxes as part of the budget solution. Obviously he’ll have a tough fight ahead in trying to make that a part of the picture, but they will all have to compromise in the end to fix the deficit. However they resolve the problem, it will be tough to do and the arts will be challenged to avoid cuts in this environment. So STAY TUNED as we gear up for a tough year of fighting for the arts.

      ——————————————————————

      2. Join Us For MCA’s Annual Meeting November 15

      “Protecting What You Voted For”

      At MCA’s annual meeting we will welcome new board members, thank retiring members, and talk about the threats and opportunities for the arts in the upcoming legislative sesison. See a brief presentation from MCA Executive Director Sheila Smith and lobbyist Larry Redmond, and mix and mingle with MCA members from all over the state.

      Join us! Monday, November 15, from 5:30-7:00 pm., at the Bloomington Theatre Art Center, followed by Happy Hour at the nearby Green Mill. :) The beautiful Bloomington Theatre and Art Center is just off of 35W at 1800 Old Shakopee Road in Bloomington. See you there!

      ——————————————————————

      3. Legacy Logo Design Contest Launched by DNR

      You are invited to enter! Submit up to three logo designs that represent the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

      The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking entries for a contest to design a logo that will identify all projects funded by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Entries must be submitted by December 7, 2010. As the Amendment covers four different funds – clean water, land, parks and trails, and arts and history – the logo should encompass all four areas, or be usable for all four areas. Get more info. on the contest here:http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/legacylogo/index.html.

      ——————————————————————

      4. Arts Education Survey to be Conducted

      Does every student in Minnesota have access to quality arts education? Reliable data is key to making informed decisions that will impact student achievement. The Perpich Center for Arts Education is conducting a Legacy-funded survey of both public and private schools that will:

      • help increase the understanding of the current picture of arts education in our state
      • provide schools with information to strengthen equity, access and learning in the arts
      • be an additional lens, besides standardized tests, to provide data on our schools

      How can a school participate?

      • Find the survey at http://www.pcae.k12.mn.us/pdr/mnae_survey.html
      • IF YOU ARE A TEACHER: Please encourage your school leader to complete the survey and offer your assistance with data collection.
      • IF YOU ARE A PARENT: Please ask your local school leader (i.e., Principal) to complete the survey
      • IF YOU ARE AN ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH SCHOOLS: Data on your activities with the school over the last three years can be included in the survey. Help the teachers you work with create the data that will be needed to complete the survey.

      Results will be available in the spring of 2012. The survey has been endorsed by the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association (MESPA), and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). For more information, contact Alina Campana, State Program Administrator, atalina.campana@pcae.k12.mn.us or 763-591-4803.

      ——————————————————————

      5. Nominate Your Arts Heroes for Sally Awards

      It’s that time of year again – to honor our arts heroes by nominating them for a “Sally” award.

      The Ordway is seeking nominations for the 2010 Sally Ordway Irvine Awards (MCA was a recipient of the Sally Award for “Commitment” in 2003). The prestigious awards, now in their 18th year, provide an opportunity to recognize and honor extraordinary achievements in the visual and performing arts throughout Minnesota. Recipients receive $2500, recognition at an awards ceremony, and an award.

      “Minnesota’s arts scene is so rich and vibrant that it’s difficult to keep up with all the great work being done around the state, ” said Patricia Mitchell, Ordway President and CEO. “We therefore rely on colleagues, arts enthusiasts and citizens to nominate individuals and organizations who have made a significant impact on their community or on their artistic discipline. We want to cast the net as broadly as possible by seeking nominations from all corners of the state.”

      Each year, one person or organization receives an award in each of four categories: Vision, Initiative, Commitment and Education. Nominations for the 2010 awards are being accepted through November 15, 2010. Individuals and organiztions from any artistic or cultural field are eligible, as long as their work took place in Minnesota. Nominees may be artists, professional administrators, volunteers or philanthropists.

      After all entries have been received, a selection committee reviews the nominations and selects the four award winners, who will be honored at the Sally Awards ceremony at the Ordway on March 21, 2011.

      Nominations forms and additional information are available online atwww.ordway.org/sallyawards

      ——————————————————————

      RESOURCES

      Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

      JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

      Posted in 2010, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

      arts alert: New Video: Artists Say Why They Are Going to VOTE ART

      Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

      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
      @MnCitizen
      Arts Action Center

      October 15, 2010

      1. New Video: Artists Say Why They Are Going to VOTE ART

      2. Save the Date: MCA Annual Meeting November 15

      3. Be an Educated Arts Voter

      ——————————————————————

      1.New Video: Artists Say Why They Are Going to VOTE ART

      The election is just two weeks away, and we need to get out the vote!

      See why your artist friends and neighbors are going to VOTE ART on November 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8HuLRDJh0&feature=sub

      This election will make a big difference for the arts. There is a $6 billion deficit and the threat of new cuts is very real. Who makes those decisions will be very important to our community. Our great Media Intern Troy Zimmerman interviewed artists and arts people, including cool dude Chris Osgood, Louge-asaurus Rex, Rhymesayers and more!

      ——————————————————————

      2. Save the Date: MCA Annual Meeting November 15

      At MCA’s annual meeting we will welcome new board members, thank retiring members, and talk about the threats and opportunities for the arts in the upcoming legislative sesison. Join us! Save the date: 5:30-7:00 pm., location TBA.

      ——————————————————————

      3. Be an Educated Arts Voter

      The election is just a couple of weeks awy! MCA wants you to be an educated arts voter. We’ve got two great tools online for you to get ready to vote in November:

      1. Watch MCA’s video of Governor Candidates Dayton and Horner

      MCA is proud to present the second installment of our candidate videos featuring two of three contenders for the Governor’s office and their responses to questions on the arts. Go to: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/governor-candidates/ We are still hoping to interview the GOP contender, Tom Emmer, who still has not yet responded to our requests for interviews.

      2. Nearly 200 Legislative Candidates Respond to Our Arts Questionnaire:

      You want to know if your local candidates support the arts? Find out how they answered our survey about arts issues: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/. We’ve information from candidates of all parties.

      ——————————————————————

      RESOURCES

      Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

      JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

      Posted in 2010, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

      arts alert: Legacy Amendment Shows Up In Jonathan Franzen’s #1 Best Seller “Freedom”

      Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

      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
      @MnCitizen
      Arts Action Center

      October 11, 2010

      1. Legacy Amendment Shows up in Jonathan Franzen’s #1 Best Seller “Freedom”

      2. Nominate Your Arts Hero For a Sally Award

      3. Governor Candidates Dayton and Horner Talk Arts At Debate

      4. Vote Arts!

      5. Save a Tree: Get Rid of Your Phone Book

      ——————————————————————

      1. Legacy Amendment Shows up in Jonathan Franzen’s #1 Best Seller “Freedom”

      Jonathan Franzen, author of “The Corrections” has a new #1 best seller. His new novel “Freedom” takes place in Minnesota and the main character works for the Nature Conservancy. He hates life, he hates cats, he hates pretty much everything. But towards the end of the novel he briefly mentions a few things that weren’t too bad, for example, “making cold calls on behalf of a new sales tax to support a state Land Conservation Fund, which had eventually garnered more votes than even Obama had — was similarly unobjectionable.”

      How fun to see our campaign show up in a best selling novel!

      ——————————————————————

      2. Nominate Your Arts Hero For a Sally Award

      It’s that time of year again – to honor our arts heroes by nominating them for a “Sally” award.

      The Ordway is seeking nominations for the 2010 Sally Ordway Irvine Awards (MCA was a recipient of the Sally Award for “Commitment” in 2003). The prestigious awards, now in their 18th year, provide an opportunity to recognize and honor extraordinary achievements in the visual and performing arts throughout Minnesota.

      “Minnesota’s arts scene is so rich and vibrant that it’s difficult to keep up with all the great work being done around the state, ” said Patricia Mitchell, Ordway President and CEO. “We therefore rely on colleagues, arts enthusiasts and citizens to nominate individuals and organizations who have made a significant impact on their community or on their artistic discipline. We want to cast the net as broadly as possible by seeking nominations from all corners of the state.”

      Each year, one person or organization receives an award in each of four categories: Vision, Initiative, Commitment and Education. Nominations for the 2010 awards are being accepted through November 15, 2010. Individuals and organiztions from any artistic or cultural field are eligible, as long as their work took place in Minnesota. Nominees may be artists, professional administrators, volunteers or philanthropists.

      After all entries have been received, a selection committee reviews the nominations and selects the four award winners, who will be honored at the Sally Awards ceremony at the Ordway on March 21, 2011.

      Nominations forms and additional information are available online atwww.ordway.org/sallyawards

      ——————————————————————

      3. Governor Candidates Dayton and Horner Talk Arts At Debate

      At last week’s Minnesota Council of Nonprofit’s debate in Duluth, the candidates were asked to talk about their support for the arts.

      Mark Dayton (D) talked about his long history in supporting the arts, and decried the decline in arts education. He applauded citizens for supporting the Legacy Amendment, and said that it’s the governor and legislature’s job to make sure it gets to every corner of the state.

      Tom Horner (I) said that arts need to be elevated in society by ensuring access to arts education. He said he didn’t support the Legacy Amendment, but now that it’s here it needs to be protected.

      Tom Emmer (G) declined to appear at the debate.

      ——————————————————————

      4. Vote Arts!

      Be an Educated Arts Voter:

      MCA wants you to be an educated arts voter! We’ve got two great tools online for you to get ready to vote in November:

      1. Watch MCA’s video of Governor Candidates Dayton and Horner!

      MCA is proud to present the second installment of our candidate videos featuring two of three contenders for the Governor’s office and their responses to questions on the arts. Go to: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/governor-candidates/ We are still hoping to interview the GOP contender, Tom Emmer, who still has not yet responded to our requests for interviews.

      2. Nearly 200 Legislative Candidates Respond to Our Arts Questionnaire:

      You want to know if your local candidates support the arts? Find out how they answered our survey about arts issues: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/. We’ve information from candidates of all parties.

      ——————————————————————

      5. Save a Tree: Get Rid of Your Phone Book

      Our partner organization the Conservation Minnesota has a great new website.

      DontTrashThePhoneBook.org. This unique website is a “first in the nation” partnership between a conservation group and the publishers of phone directories to reduce waste. It makes it simple to opt-out of receiving the various yellow pages delivered in Minnesota and to understand your community’s recycling options for phone directories that you choose to receive.

      Visit this website and choose the options that meet your needs. Then, help us spread the word about this important service. Together we can help Minnesotan’s make individual choices that reduce waste and protect our environment.

      ——————————————————————

      RESOURCES

      Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

      JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

      Posted in 2010, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

      arts alert: MCA Looking for Board Members

      Monday, October 4th, 2010

      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
      @MnCitizen
      Arts Action Center

      September 24, 2010

      1. Nominations for MCA’s Board Now Open

      2. Be an Educated Arts Voter

      3. Save a Tree: Get Rid of Your Phone Book

      ——————————————————————

      1. Nominations for MCA’s Board Now Open

      Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is soliciting nominations for its Board of Trustees. Terms begin November, 2010 and will last for two years. Half of MCA’s 36 board members must come from the Twin Cities metro area, and half from Greater Minnesota. Interested? Fill out the form below and return itby October 1, 2010 by email, fax, or by snail mail to the above address.

      MCA seeks board members who:

      • Have a willingness to work, volunteer and come to our meetings.
      • Are people with political connections, political strategists, and people with an understanding of the political process, or are willing to learn
      • Have mix of party affiliation
      • Provide balance in terms of the size or type of organizations represented on the board (large, medium, small, arts education, individual artist, etc.)
      • Have clout within their organizations and/or peers, and have the ability and willingness to communicate about the need for arts advocacy
      • Provide other balances in terms of representing the state or the arts community (ie diversity in terms of age, race, etc).
      • Your nomination to the board is more likely to be successful if you are a paid member of MCA and if you have previously been a part of Arts Advocacy Day, the Vote Yes campaign, or volunteered for the cause in some other way. (Please do not nominate someone else unless you have discussed it with them first, and they have provided an answer to the question “Why do you want to be on the MCA board?).

      MCA Board Nomination Form: Answer these questions and send to:
      staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

      NOMINEE NAME:
      Home Address:
      Work Address:
      Home Phone:
      Work Phone:
      Organization (If appropriate):
      Title (If appropriate):
      Legislative District # (If unknown, MCA can identify it for you):
      Experience with your local arts community:
      Political Experience (desired, but not necessary):
      Why are you interested in serving on the MCA Board of Trustees?

      ——————————————————————

      2. Be an Educated Arts Voter

      MCA wants you to be an educated arts voter! We’ve got two great tools online for you to get ready to vote in November:

      1. Watch video of Governor Candidates Dayton and Horner!

      MCA is proud to present the second installment of our candidate videos featuring two of three contenders for the Governor’s office and their responses to questions on the arts. Go to: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/governor-candidates/ We are still hoping to interview the GOP contender, Tom Emmer, who still has not yet responded to our requests for interviews.

      2. Nearly 200 Legislative Candidates Respond to Our Arts Questionnaire:

      You want to know if your local candidates support the arts? Find out how they answered our survey about arts issues: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/. We’ve information from candidates of all parties.

      ——————————————————————

      3. Save a Tree: Get Rid of Your Phone Book

      Our partner organization the Conservation Minnesota has a great new website.

      DontTrashThePhoneBook.org. This unique website is a “first in the nation” partnership between a conservation group and the publishers of phone directories to reduce waste. It makes it simple to opt-out of receiving the various yellow pages delivered in Minnesota and to understand your community’s recycling options for phone directories that you choose to receive.

      Visit this website and choose the options that meet your needs. Then, help us spread the word about this important service. Together we can help Minnesotan’s make individual choices that reduce waste and protect our environment.

      ——————————————————————

      RESOURCES

      Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

      JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

      Posted in 2010, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

      arts alert: Watch New Video of Dayton/Horner Talking Arts Issues / MCA Board Nominations Open

      Monday, September 20th, 2010

      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
      @MnCitizen
      Arts Action Center

      September 17, 2010

      1. New Video: MCA Interviews Governor Candidates Dayton and Horner!

      2. Nominations for MCA’s Board Now Open

      3. Nearly 200 Legislative Candidates Respond to Our Arts Questionnaire

      4. Defending Property Tax Exemption for Nonprofits: Attend MCN’s Seminar Sept. 20

      ——————————————————————

      1. New Video: MCA Interviews Governor Candidates Dayton and Horner!

      MCA is proud to present the second installment of our candidate videos featuring two of three contenders for the Governor’s office and their responses to questions on the arts. Be an informed voter:

      • Which ones committed to MCA’s position that 50% of the Legacy’s Arts and Culture Fund should go to the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Art Councils so that the funds get to all 87 Minnesota counties?

      Find out by watching our video: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/governor-candidates/ We are still hoping to interview the GOP contender, Tom Emmer, who still has not yet responded to our requests for interviews.

      ——————————————————————

      2. Nominations for MCA’s Board Now Open

      Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is soliciting nominations for its Board of Trustees. Terms begin November, 2009 and will last for two years. Half of MCA’s 36 board members must come from the Twin Cities metro area, and half from Greater Minnesota. Interested? Fill out the form below and return itby October 1, 2009 by email, fax, or by snail mail to the above address.

      MCA seeks board members who:

      • Have a willingness to work, volunteer and come to our meetings.
      • Are people with political connections, political strategists, and people with an understanding of the political process, or are willing to learn
      • Have mix of party affiliation
      • Provide balance in terms of the size or type of organizations represented on the board (large, medium, small, arts education, individual artist, etc.)
      • Have clout within their organizations and/or peers, and have the ability and willingness to communicate about the need for arts advocacy
      • Provide other balances in terms of representing the state or the arts community (ie diversity in terms of age, race, etc).
      • Your nomination to the board is more likely to be successful if you are a paid member of MCA and if you have previously been a part of Arts Advocacy Day, the Vote Yes campaign, or volunteered for the cause in some other way. (Please do not nominate someone else unless you have discussed it with them first, and they have provided an answer to the question “Why do you want to be on the MCA board?).
        __________________________________________________________________________________________

      MCA Board Nomination Form

      NOMINEE NAME:
      Home Address:
      Work Address:
      Home Phone:
      Work Phone:
      Organization (If appropriate):
      Title (If appropriate):
      Legislative District # (If unknown, MCA can identify it for you):
      Experience with your local arts community:
      Political Experience (desired, but not necessary):
      Why are you interested in serving on the MCA Board of Trustees?

      ——————————————————————

      3. Nearly 200 Legislative Candidates Respond to Our Arts Questionnaire

      You want to know if your local candidates support the arts? Find out how they answered our survey about arts issues: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/actnow/legislatorsupport/. We’ve surveyed candidates from all parties

      ——————————————————————

      4. Defending Property Tax Exemption for Nonprofits: Attend MCN’s Seminar Sept. 20

      Our partner organization the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is providing an important seminar for nonprofits that own property:

      ‘Be Nonprofit Ready: New Nonprofit Tax Exemption Toolkit’, September 20

      Nonprofits that own property can apply for a property tax exemption. The exemption is intended to allow public charities to focus their resources on their mission related work. When this tax exemption was thrown into doubt by a court case, MCN worked to clarify the property tax exemption rules for nonprofits, culminating in the signing of a bill in 2009 that defined what is required for nonprofits to qualify for the property tax exemption.

      With the new law enacted, it’s important that your organization understands how it works so that your next property tax exemption application is successful. Led by Rinal Ray, MCN’s former Property Tax Exemption Campaign Coordinator, together with Marcia Avner, MCN Senior Fellow, this workshop will equip you with all the tools and knowledge you’ll need to write a complete and compelling property tax exemption application.

      Monday, September 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
      Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Conference Room
      2314 University Ave W., Suite 20, Saint Paul, MN 55114

      Fee: Free, but please RSVP

      ——————————————————————

      RESOURCES

      Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

      JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

      Posted in 2010, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

      arts alert: Are You Coming to the Town Hall with Rocco Landesman?

      Monday, August 16th, 2010

      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
      @MnCitizen
      Arts Action Center

      August 16, 2010

      YOU ARE INVITED to Town Hall Forum with Rocco Landesman from NEA

      If you are coming, please RSVP!

      The head of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman, is coming to Minnesota at the request of Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-St. Paul) to talk about economic development through the arts. There will be a Town Hall Meeting and you are invited. Sign up now as space is limited!

      Congresswoman Betty McCollum Invites You
      to attend a town hall forum with the
      Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts

      Congresswoman Betty McCollum is pleased to invite Minnesota’s arts community to a town hall forum with Mr. Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Chairman Landesman is visiting Saint Paul as part of this “Arts Works” tour highlighting the important role of the arts in strengthening community and contributing to economic revitalization and development.

      WHO: Congresswoman Betty McCollum & NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman
      WHEN: Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 2:30-3:30 PM
      WHERE: Steppingstone Theatre, 55 Victoria Street North, Saint Paul (parking on the street or at the ramp near Cafe Latte)
      RSVP: Please RSVP by Friday, August 20, 2010 at 651-224-9191 (McCollum’s Office) or mccollumartsevent@mail.hous.gov

      PARKING UPDATE: William Mitchell has offered the use of its overflow lot at the corner of Grotto and Summit. Please park there – NOT in William Mitchell’s regular parking lot, which they need for their students. You can also find street parking in the surrounding blocks, or park at the ramp on Victoria and Grand near Cafe Latte.

      ——————————————————————

      RESOURCES

      Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.

      JOIN Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

      PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.
      ABOUT: 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.

      Posted in 2010, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

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