state arts action network
State Arts Action Network
Network Meeting
Sunday, March 30, 2008
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Chair: Sheila Smith
Vice Chair: Anne Katz
Staff Liaisons: Jay Dick, Tim Mikulski
Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Senate Room
Attendees:
Sheila Smith, Chair, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
Anne Katz, Vice-Chair, Arts Wisconsin
Judy Weiner, Immediate Past Chair, Alliance of NY State Arts Organizations
John Barsness, Montana Arts
Lisa Carnevale, Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts
Lisa Caretto, California Arts Advocates
Donna Collins, Ohio Citizens for the Arts
Sally Gaskill, Indiana Coalition for the Arts
Virginia Gowski, Utah Cultural Alliance
Jenny Hershour, Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania
Dan Hunter, Mass. Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities
Ra Joy, Illinois Arts Alliance
Linda Kreutz, Texans for the Arts
Mary Langholz, Washington State Arts Alliance
Whitney Llewelyn, Wyoming Arts Alliance
Sherron Long, Florida Cultural Alliance
Betty Plumb, South Carolina Arts Alliance
Trish Poupore, Virginians for the Arts
Philana Quick, Maryland Citizens for the Arts
Jan Selman, Arts Leadership League of Georgia
Leslie Schumacher, Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota
Brenda Sperduti, Arizona Citizens for the Arts
Matt Strauch, Arts for Colorado
Cecelia Wooden, Arts Kentucky
Staff:
Jay Dick, Director of State and Local Government Affairs, Americans for the Arts
Tim Mikulski, State & Local Govt. Affairs Coordinator, Americans for the Arts
State of the State Reports:
Due to the length of the professional development session, the Introduction and Closing Comments sections were deleted from the agenda and Sheila Smith requested that each state representative take two minutes for a report about the happenings in their state. Prior to publication, Tim Mikulski also asked all SAAN members if they would like to supplement their comments from the meeting via email so that a more thorough report would be shared with the Network.
Anne Katz – Arts Wisconsin, with the advice and assistance of a lot of smart people, has developed the “56 Cents-The Change Wisconsin Needs” campaign to get to $1 per capita state funding for the arts (“56 cents” because Wisconsin is currently at 44 cents per capita – all we need is 56 cents – less than the price of half a cup of coffee) to reach one dollar per capita. Good for Business, a fantastic Madison-based communication firm, created the campaign on a pro bono basis. The campaign can be viewed at: www.artswisconsin.org/56cents.
Arts Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education are partnering with the Music For All Foundation on arts education research, with a report to be released in April 2008.
Wisconsin was part of the NEA’s Educational Leaders Institute in Chicago, one of only five states selected to participate.
Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster announced a Joint Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education, to “address the essential role arts education and the development of all students' creative capacities plays in the lives of students, in defining their future, the quality of life in Wisconsin communities and our state's economy.” The Task Force charge is at http://www.artswisconsin.org/getinvolved/taskforcecharge.pdf.
Lisa Caretto – The California bill that would provide 20 percent of the sales tax charged on two particular arts-related business categories to the arts council died partly due to slow movement in the field last Spring and then the a $14 billion deficit announced in December, but the concept has been reintroduced language that would have the bill (AB 2728) taking effect when budget infrastructure is balanced and California's Economic Recovery Bonds are paid. Also, a bill that would require performing arts groups working on state property to pay the prevailing union wage for all workers has been introduced. This is a burden for them and we are working to amend the bill to limit the negative financial impact that it would have on nonprofit theatre companies and performing arts venues operating on state property.
John Barsness – It is a biennial off year for the Montana legislature. He is putting together a children’s art exhibition by the Mongolian Arts Council that will tour here. Anyone interested in this exhibition should contact him by May 30.
Donna Collins – Ohio had a group of 25 for Arts Advocacy Day which will result in 20 Congressional meetings. Their state arts advocacy day is scheduled for April 16th and sold out last week for a total of 850 advocates for lunch and visits with a total of 133 members of the Senate and House. A great component of Ohio’s Arts Day is the convening of high school students who make personal visits to the state legislators’ offices and deliver a packet of information with data, research (including the Creative Industries report for the legislator’s district), public value stories, and a commemorative children’s book, and CD from one of the state’s premier orchestras. The lieutenant governor agreed to make the arts part of the platform for economic development and provided a quote for a brochure on economic development which will be used on Arts Day. The economy and state budget continue to be an issue with anticipated cuts to all state agencies due to the projected revenue shortfall.
Jan Selman – Georgia HB-291 passed the legislature after three years. The bill would create the Georgia Arts Alliance under the state arts council. The group would be in charge of creating a statewide cultural policy. It passed the House 157 to 4 and it looks like the governor will sign it. Unfortunately, the state arts council does not support the bill.
Lisa Carnevale – Rhode Island ’s lottery scratch ticket for the arts passed and they brought in $82,000 to the state arts council after fees and expenses. Overall, their position has been reactionary this year but they are working on a multi-year policy agenda so they can be more proactive in the future. A large tax bill proposal includes language that would repeal artist tax districts. They were able to talk with the sponsors on both the House and Senate version and testified in the House Finance Committee to what seemed to be a successful removal of that language. A Bill that would require artists applying for public arts projects to be only from RI has not moved.
Trish Poupore – Funding in Virginia for its state arts agency is holding steady at just under $6 million for the upcoming 2009-2010 biennium. Virginians for the Arts (VFTA) feels this is an achievement given the state's current economic challenges. During the past year, over 400 attended its January annual conference, 37 legislators attended its Legislative Reception, and about 140 made visits on Arts Advocacy Day.
VFTA has undertaken a statewide public relations campaign to build support of its Arts Build Communities concept. Over 1,000 signatories had signed on to this campaign, receiving a free bumper sticker in the mail by January, 2008. Names of supporters were published in a full-page ad in the Richmond Times Dispatch during the legislative session, in conjunction with Arts Advocacy Day.
Governor Tim Kaine celebrates the fourth celebration of Governors Arts Awards since 1979 in September 2008. The program is being administered by VFTA Foundation, and awards will be presented at the Capitol Rotunda with a private reception at the Governor's Mansion.
Virginia Gowski – The Utah Cultural Alliance now has a paid staffer. The state is launching a new $15.8 million arts education program that will be used to hire 50 teaching artists for 50 schools.
Leslie Schumacher – Introduced herself and mentioned that she is a board member of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. At the Forum of Regional Arts Councils she is filling the large shoes of Carolyn Bye.
Whitney Llewelyn – The Wyoming organization is just starting and they are working on their first state arts advocacy day. They are also working with the governor for the 24th annual arts awards.
Mary Langholz – Mary introduced herself as the replacement for Gretchen Johnson with the Washington State Arts Alliance. Their legislature is on a 60-day then 90-day session cycle at the moment and a bill bringing back the lodging tax for arts in culture in King County will return in 2020 as it was used to pay for new stadiums.
Brenda Sperduti – Explained the bill that would divert funding for the arts to filling abandoned mines in Arizona and stated that although it passed out of committee, they believe that it would be killed next week.
Philana Quick – Introduced herself as the new Executive Director at Maryland Citizens for the Arts. Governor O’Malley submitted a mandated funding increase of $1.3 million dollars to the state arts council budget, but the Senate voted to cut $510,000 out of the increase. Thankfully the Conference Committee voted to protect the entire $1.3 million dollar increase to the budget.
Cecelia Wooden – Announced that David Cupps is the new Executive Director for Arts Kentucky, replacing Trish Salerno.
Sherron Long – Explained that Florida currently has a $3 billion deficit and the Speaker wants to eliminate state agencies, including the Division of Cultural Affairs. The House is offering $3.5 million for the Division for next year while the Senate is offering $8 million. This year they received $12 million. The state also eliminated the state art in public buildings initiative while a physical education increase for middle schools has also hurt the arts.
Sally Gaskill – New cultural districts legislation passed the legislature unanimously. Indiana’s advocacy day went well and INCA presented one of its community arts awards to outgoing Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson who was very appreciative for receiving it. The state’s primary is coming up on May 5th.
Judy Weiner – The New York Arts Council received $49 million, although they hoped for a 3.5 percent increase. The state is already facing a $4 to $5 billion shortfall and the new governor had asked for a 2 percent cut across the board. Elections for both houses of the legislature will be held in the fall with the Republicans currently in control of the senate by one seat. New governor is a big arts supporter. The organization has also found success with webinars this year.
Ra Joy – Illinois continues to cut the funding for the arts, but the governor did say that they would return funding for arts education back next year. They also took part in the same education leaders institute that Anne Katz worked with in March.
Betty Plumb – It has been a busy budget year in South Carolina. The Governor’s budget cut S.C. Arts Commission base budget by 23.3% and then the House version cut state agencies across the board (the Arts Commission was cut by 2.69%) and lost last year’s one-time funding of $585,000 to their granting program for general operating support to arts organizations and for arts education programs across the state. Losing this money would be reflected in a 30% cut to SCAC grantees.
Then, the Senate Finance Committee added the $585,000 in one-time funds to the arts commission budget into their version of the budget bill, and reduced agency cuts from 2.69% to 2.5% (a reduction from other state agencies who were being cut 3.6%). All of this was after the Senate Finance Committee went back into an emergency meeting to make additional cuts to balance their budget bill when they learned 2 days ago that state revenues were going to be down by another $90 million!! Thanks to lots of advocacy, the $585,000 remains safe in the Senate's budget -- at least until debate on the budget begins on Senate Floor, Tuesday, April 15. Of course, if the $585,000 stays in the budget past Senate vote – final decisions will be made in Conference Committee in May – so we've still very deep in to our advocacy work.
We had a very successful Arts Advocacy Day on February 12th, with 55 legislators joining arts leaders from around the state at our sold out Legislative Appreciation Luncheon. Guest speaker was Emil de Cou, Associate Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra -- a very effective speaker/advocate for arts education. After the Luncheon we held an Arts Advocacy Workshop led by our new pro bono lobbyist -- or as they are officially referred -- government relations team -- at the offices of their law firm. Since the Luncheon we've picked up new members to our Legislative Arts Caucus – 84 out of 123 House members and 40 Senators out of 47 are now members.
Matt Strauch – Colorado’s arts funding is the best it has been. The arts council has been moved within the office of tourism and economic development and they have resurrected the governor arts awards. They also had their first advocacy day last month.
Sheila Smith – Minnesota had a few interesting pieces of legislation this year. A smoking ban bill exempted theater performances so some bars began to use that as a loop hole to get around the ban. We are working on clarifying the bill. The state is facing a $1 billion deficit, but the arts have avoided any cuts so far. The big issue is getting the ballot initiative to pass and they are still looking for non-traditional groups to join them in support. The logo for the ballot initiative effort was interesting as they incorporated colors and symbols of the sportsmen, environmentalists and arts community.
Linda Kreutz – Introduced herself as the new Executive Director at Texans for the Arts. Texas had several legislative victories last session. They successfully preserved the Hotel Occupancy Tax funding for the arts. The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) was reauthorized for six additional years instead of the two recommended by the Sunset Commission and received a 5% increase in its budget for the coming two years. When the legislature convenes in 2009 we they push forward with another ambitious legislative agenda adding another goal -- to secure at least $1.00 per capita in arts funding. They hope to support the effort with their first state arts advocacy day.
Anne Marie Miller – New Jersey state arts support is proposed for a $5.9 million cut which is close to 30%. ArtPride advocates are working hard to see that funding is at least partially restored and they are visiting all 40 legislative districts, hoping to meet with all 120 state legislators. Businesspeople and educators are being recruited to join in on the local visits and speak out with examples of how the arts make a significant contribution to the state and local economies. The advocates will be using Creative Industry reports as an example and it makes a perfect "leave behind" piece.
So far over 3,000 emails and letters have been sent to district legislators through the Capwiz site. Arts groups are using their Patron Mail and Constant Contact newsletters to send alerts to audience members steering them to the Capwiz page. Playbill ads, vendor letters, curtains speeches are other communication tools are being used to get the word out. This is a truly difficult campaign since departments are being cut across the board.
Closing:
Sheila thanked everyone for their patience and for joining the meetings for the day and adjourned.