Reflections on Town Hall

A number of arts leaders and administrators attended the 98th Arizona Town Hall and participated in creating recommendations for  the arts and culture industry in Arizona.

Robert Booker, the Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts offered his thoughts on the Town Hall experience for our readers:

I was pleased to attend the 98^th Arizona Town Hall, Capitalizing on Arizona’s Arts and Culture. The experience of being with so many arts, education, business, and community leaders to discuss the current state of the Arizona arts industry, and to set a course of action for the way forward, is indeed a great opportunity. One of the most significant recommendations that came out of the convening is that we as Arizonans need to be more proactive in building a future for our state through the arts. This and many other recommendations uphold the long term vision for the Arizona arts industry in the Arts Commission’s strategic plan.  

At the Town Hall, there was an overwhelming recognition of the value of public funding for the arts. Public funding for the arts from state, county, and city resources helps ensure that all Arizonans have access to arts programming. It also enhances our industry’s ability to play a role in the growth of our economy and provides the resources needed to bring arts education opportunities to our young people. We must not forget that times of crisis can reveal opportunities. As a unified field we can capitalize on this pivotal moment to cultivate critical support for the arts. The arts industry is a key player in our state’s successful future.

I was personally pleased that the campaign created by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, The Choice is Art was recognized by so many participants as an active and compelling campaign to build awareness of the value of arts education, to increase participation, and to direct resources to the private ArtShare fund.

We are now charged to take aggressive action to rebuild public funding for the arts, and to discover new ways to work to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in and experience the arts in Arizona.

Congress Passes Funding for National Endowment for the Arts

DID YOU HEAR THE GOOD NEWS? 

Congress passed a $12.5 million funding increase for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of the FY 2010 Interior Appropriations bill. That means the NEA will now have a budget of $167.5 million, the highest funding level in 16 years. This is great news in light of the fact that many state and local governments, including those in Arizona, have drastically cut arts budgets. (National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) experienced an identical increase.) Arizona will reap some benefits of this increase although we do not know exactly how much just yet.

If you want to know more the Arizona Citizens for the Arts Advocacy Center is the place to go to learn more about legislation in Arizona and nationally that pertains to the Arts and Arts Education. AzCA Advocacy Center

We also offer a mailing list for a monthly Newsletter and Action Alerts for the Arts and Arts Education, you can sign up for that list Here.

RESULTS OF THE VOTE:

The FY 2010 Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 2996) was passed in the House by a vote of 247-178 and in the Senate by a vote of 72-28. Want to know how our Arizona Senators and Congressmen voted?

Here are the results:

Voting Yea (for): Congresspersons: Kirkpatrick-D1, Pastor-D4, Grijalva-D7, Giffords-D8

Voting Nay (against): Senators: McCain and Kyl and Congresspersons: Franks-D2, Shadegg-D3, Mitchell-D5 and Flake-D6

These are the people who represent you! Share your appreciate for the Representatives who Voted Yes for the Arts!

Thank you Representatives Kirkpatrick, Pastor, Grijalva and Giffords!

Help us continue our important work by becoming a member of Arizona Citizens for the Arts. Join Today!