12/20/02

Minnesota State Budget Cuts Imminent As Deficit nears $5 billion
What can arts constituents do?

Attend ARTS ADVOCACY DAY at the STATE CAPITOL FEBRUARY 27, 2003

Save the Date!

Although Minnesota is facing a historic deficit, Governor-elect Tim Pawlenty has pledged not to raise taxes to fix the budget. So cuts to state agencies and programs, which could include programs which serve the arts through the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Regional Arts Councils - are almost certain. What is not certain is the depth of those cuts. With the unpredictable economy affecting artists across the state, we need state funding to be as stable as possible. We are aware of the deficit and aware that cuts will occur across the system, but we believe both the legislature and governor need to take a balanced approach to solving the deficit problem. Part of a balanced approach will be to treat the arts fairly.

Last session, with the help of arts advocates like you, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) convinced the Legislature to reduce the cut to the arts to 4%. It took the entire arts community to prevent even deeper cuts. This year, MCA will work hard to keep Minnesota arts funding safe. But we canât do it alone. MCA has been successful at fighting cuts in the past with the help of arts advocates like you all across the state. You can add a powerful voice to the choir of arts advocates who believe the arts in Minnesota are worth fighting for.

On Advocacy Day, organized by MCA, arts advocates from every corner of Minnesota come to the State Capitol to meet with their legislators and talk about the importance of the arts to our state and region. This exciting day begins with a brief advocacy training session. MCA will set up appointments with legislators for you. You will not be alone÷arts advocates go out in teams to meet with lawmakers. Each team is led by someone from the arts community who has participated in Advocacy Day before and who knows what to do. The most important person a legislator can hear from is YOU.

Sign up for Arts Advocacy Day here.

Call MCA at 651-251-0868 to find out who your legislators are and contact them directly if you’re unable to attend Advocacy Day.

By becoming a member of MCA, you or your arts organization can help to continue lobbying, organizing and educating citizens and elected officials about the vital role of the arts in our state. Individual dues are just $30 and you can print out a membership form here.

SPREAD THE WORD! Feel free to use this alert in your arts organization’s newsletter or programs.

12/10/02

The state of Minnesota has just announced a deficit that nears $5 billion. Across the country, most other states are also posting deficits. State funding supports the artists and arts organizations that you love in every corner of Minnesota. But the arts are threatened. Across the country, arts budgets are being slashed.

Among states with line items for the arts, significant recent cuts include:

Arkansas - ARTS CUT BY 47%
California - ARTS CUT BY 50%
Massachusetts - ARTS CUT BY 62%

Will Minnesota be next?

Not if we have anything to say about it!

Although Minnesota is facing a historic deficit, Governor-elect Tim Pawlenty has pledged not to raise taxes to reduce the deficit. So cuts to state agencies and programs - which could include the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Regional Arts Councils - are almost certain. What is not certain is the depth of those cuts.

Last session, with the help of arts advocates like you, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts convinced the Legislature to reduce the cut to the arts to 4%. It took the entire arts community to prevent even deeper cuts. This year, MCA will work hard to keep Minnesota arts funding safe. But we can’t do it alone.

MCA has been successful at fighting cuts in the past with the help of arts advocates like you all across the state. You can add a powerful voice to the choir of arts advocates who believe that the arts in Minnesota are worth fighting for. By becoming a member of MCA, you or your arts organization can help us continue lobbying, organizing and educating citizens and elected officials about the vital role of the arts in our state. Become a member of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. The state of the arts is depending on it.

You can join by printing out the membership form by clicking here. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Sincerely yours,
Rebecca Lynn Petersen
Chair, Membership Committee

P.S. Renew now and get benefits like the Advocacy Update newsletter, Advocacy Seminars, an invitation to MCA’s Annual Meeting, and Arts Alerts by fax or e-mail! MCA is funded entirely by the dues of its members. Do you appreciate receiving up to the minute news on the fate of the arts in the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress? We could not provide Arts Alerts if it werenât for the wonderful and committed arts advocates who show their commitment by joining MCA.

11/13/02

IN MINNESOTA:

No matter who had won the elections, the next big story will be how those in control deal with the state’s nearly $3 billion dollar budget deficit. With many pledges having been made not to raise taxes, and a deficit that seems to grow larger with each report, it is expected that there will be cuts across state government. The deficit is a big problem for the arts and for all non-profits, and we expect large cuts to be proposed, as have been done in other states. Even before the elections, state agencies were instructed to prepare budgets with a 10% cut. The biggest change from the elections on the Minnesota political landscape was that we’ll have a new Republican Governor, Tim Pawlenty, to replace our Indpendence Party Governor, Jesse Ventura. The House retains its Republican majority, and the Senate a Democratic majority, so we have returned from tri-partisan to bi-partisan control. Governor Pawlenty is a friend of the arts, but he will have to manage a $3 billion dollar deficit in his first year of office, so the picture is unclear.

CONGRATULATE OUR FRIENDS!
This week, many arts friends have been elected to leadership positions in the new legislature. We encourage you to send “Congratulations!” notes to these great arts friends. Here’s all the info you need: (note: some office addresses may change after 1/1/03, so it would be best to send them ASAP).

In the Minnesota Senate: Democrats continue to control the Senate, but with a slimmer margin. With retirements and newly elected Senators, there will be many changes. One of the biggest changes is in legislative leadership. On Tuesday, new leaders were elected by the majority caucus. Here they are, in alphabetical order:

Senator Dick Cohen will be the Chair of the Finance Committee.
We can’t tell you how pleased we are that the arts most ardent supporter in the Senate has risen to this well deserved post.
(District 64 St. Paul)
Address: Room 317, State Capitol Building, St. Paul, 55155,
(651) 296-5931. sen.richard.cohen@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Senator Dick Day will continue in the position of Minority Leader of the Senate.
Senator Day has been a friend of the arts for the past many years.
(District 26 Owatonna, Waseca)
Address: Room 147, State Office Bldg., St. Paul, MN, 55155
(651) 296-9457. sen.dick.day@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Senator John Hottinger has been elected Majority Leader of the Senate, its most powerful position.
He is a strong friend of the arts community.
(District 23, Mankato)
Address: Room 205, State Capitol Building, St. Paul, 55155
(651) 296-6153. sen.john.hottinger@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Senator Jim Metzen is the new President of the Senate.
He has also been a great friend of the arts for many years.
(District 39, Mendota Heights/South St, Paul)
Address: Room 322, State Capitol Building, St. Paul, 55155
(651) 296-4370. sen.jim.metzen@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Senator Larry Pogemiller is the Chair of the Tax Committee.
A very strong arts supporter, he is very well versed on non-profit tax issues.
(District 59, Minneapolis)
Address: Room 235, State Capitol Building, St. Paul, 55155
(651) 296-7809. sen.larry.pogemiller@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Senator Ann Rest is the new Assistant Majority Leader
Sen. Rest has been an active arts supporter and has served on the boards of several arts organizations.
(District 45, New Hope)
Address: Room G-24, State Capitol Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-2889 sen.ann.rest@senate.leg.state.mn.us

In the Minnesota House: Republicans have increased their numbers substantially in the House, retaining control. There are a very large number of new, first time legislators. Recently, the majority caucus elected its leadership. Committee Chairs in the House may not be selected until January, so it may be a while before we know who chairs the committee funding the arts.

Representative Steve Sviggum has been reelected to the post of Speaker of the House. He has been very helpful to the arts as Speaker and we are pleased to see he is back.
(District 28B, Kenyon)
Address: 463 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-2273. rep.steve.sviggum@house.mn
Representative Eric Paulsen, a very good friend of the arts, was elected House Majority Leader to replace Tim Pawlenty.
(District 42B, Eden Prairie)
Address: 545 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-7449. rep.erik.paulsen@house.mn
Representative Matt Entenza, also a long time friend of the arts and non-profits, was elected House Minority Leader.
(District 64A, St. Paul)
Address: 261 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-8799 rep.matt.entenza@house.mn

IN WASHINGTON D.C.:

Republicans have gained control of both the House and Senate in addition to the Presidency. Some uncertainty remains over exactly when the Senate will change hands, due to a run off race coming in a few weeks. During the short lame duck session that will happen this month, it is expected that a continuing resolution to carry appropriations through the coming year is about all that will be accomplished. It is not expected that prospects for federal support of the arts will change when the new Congress convenes in January. This is because support for the National Endowment for the Arts, which has been growing in recent years, has depended equally on Republican and Democratic champions. In fact, it was bipartisan support in the Republican controlled House that increased the NEA’s appropriations in 2001 and 2002. Indeed, the Democratic majority on the Senate Appropriations Committee weighed in this year with a lesser increase for the arts endowment than the amount passed by the Republican House.

In 2003, much will depend on the leadership and initiative of Dana Gioia, nominated by President Bush to chair the National Endowment for the Arts. Confirmation of his nomination should move easily through the Senate shortly after the new Congress is sworn in. Any difficulty ahead for national arts advocates will be caused by fiscal, not political issues. In October, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that the federal budget is facing its first deficit since 1997. The OMB director said that spending has to be controlled while “new defense and homeland security spending is needed.” Facing deficits, Congress will find it harder to come up with the money it wants to invest in domestic programs like the arts.

11/01/02

Welcome to the many hundreds of new arts advocates who have joined the Arts Alert list in the past several weeks!

“If more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place in which to live.” -President John F. Kennedy

WHAT DO YOUR CANDIDATES SAY ABOUT THE ARTS?

Here’s information you, as an arts advocate, can use to get more involved:
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts surveyed all the candidates for MN Governor and MN House and Senate for their views on the arts. You can look up your own candidate’s responses by district number. Click here to find out how to learn what your new district is and what your local candidates said about the arts. More information will be added as we obtain it.

This election will be very important to the arts community. Because the state has been redistricted and many legislators are retiring, arts advocates must familiarize themselves with new districts and brand new candidates. These new candidates may be learning about the importance of the arts in Minnesota for the first time. With this election, the balance of power in the Minnesota House, Senate and Governor’s office could fundamentally shift. YOUR VOTE COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Many races are decided by just a few votes. Call the Secretary of State’s office at (651) 296-2803 (or toll free: 1-877-551-6767) to find out where you vote, or look at their web site: www.sos.state.mn.us

10/30/02

We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife, daughter, staff members and pilots. Senator Wellstone was a vigorous supporter of the arts in the Senate, a true friend who will be missed in our state’s public life, but more importantly in the hearts of many of us who were honored to work with him. Senator Wellstone understood the value of the arts to our communities and to our children.

Here are his own words:

“As a Senator from Minnesota, I think the most important thing we can do as Senators is to do our work every day in such a way that we can assure equal opportunity for every child…Different children are good at different things. Some are really good at academics…some are athletes; some are musicians; some are artists.” “Some of the things that these kids do, some of the ways in which they are creative and express themselves, some of the ways in which they, in turn, contribute to community, based upon the nurturing and the support from the NEA grants, it is just a marvelous thing to see.” -11/99, U.S. Senate Debate
Please share this alert with your friends, staff and board!

10/9/02

“If more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place in which to live.”
-President John F. Kennedy

FIND OUT WHAT THE CANDIDATES THINK ABOUT THE ARTS

Survey Results Now Posted

The upcoming election will be very important to the arts community. Because the state has been redistricted and many legislators are retiring, arts advocates must familiarize themselves with new districts and brand new candidates. These new candidates may be learning about the importance of the arts in Minnesota for the first time. With this election, the balance of power in the Minnesota House, Senate and Governor’s office could fundamentally shift.

Here’s information you, as an arts advocate, can use to get more involved:
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts surveyed all the candidates for MN Governor and MN House and Senate for their views on the arts. You can look up your own candidate’s responses by district number, find out what your new district is and what your local candidates said about the arts. We will be posting more information as we get it over the next few weeks, so if your candidates haven’t responded to the survey yet, check back again. More information about the candidates for MN governor will also be added as we obtain it.

Your vote could make the difference!
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Many races are decided by just a few votes. Call the Secretary of State’s office at (651) 296-2803 (or toll free: 1-877-551-6767) to find out where you vote, or visit their website.

SEE BELOW FOR THE SURVEY QUESTIONS THEMSELVES, AND CUMULATIVE RESULTS.

WHAT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AFFECT THE ARTS?

State arts funding.
The state of Minnesota supports the arts by appropriating money to the Regional Arts Councils and Minnesota State Arts Board, which give out grants and assistance in every Minnesota county, making the arts accessible to Minnesotans regardless of where they live.
Tax Policy.
The legislature and governor create laws that support charitable activity by making non-profits tax exempt. This issue can appear in sales, property, and income tax laws.
Education Policy.
The decisions of the legislature and governor can affect the availability of the arts in the schools.
Building Projects for the Arts.
The legislature and governor can fund some arts building projects in the stateÕs bonding bill.
THE SURVEY QUESTIONS:
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) surveyed all legislative candidates and major party candidates for Governor in August, 2002. What follows are the questions and cumulative results:

Minnesota’s statewide arts community is one of the most vibrant in the United States. From the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to the Grand Marais Playhouse, from the Rochester Art Center to the Crookston Community Theater, residents in every part of the state are involved with the arts like no other time in our state’s history.

Question One: What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year? (Check all that apply).
music | theater | visual arts | literary arts |dance | other (The responses to this question were not tabulated. It is for information only).

The legislature has not appropriated an increase in funding for the arts for each of the six fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. In addition, 4% of the arts appropriation was cut in the deficit reduction plan of the 2003 session.

Question Two: Once state revenues improve, ending this period of deficit, would you support an increase in arts funding to account for inflation in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life?

MN House Candidates
MN Senate Candidates
Enthusiastically Support
49%
51%
Support
32%
35%
(Supportive answers,combined)
81%
86%
Neutral
14%
8%
Opposed
2%
3%

Nonprofit, tax exempt organizations provide social services, health services, education and arts to the public. Under Minnesota law, nonprofit organizations have been free from paying sales or property taxes because their services benefit the public.

Question Three: Do you agree or disagree that nonprofit organizations should continue to be free from paying taxes?

MN House Candidates
MN Senate Candidates
Agree
95%
94%
Disagree
1%
0%
No Opinion
3%
3%

Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a sig-nificant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years.

Question: Do you agree with 95% of Minnesotans (based on a 1999 U of M Survey) who say that the arts are “essential” or “important” to the education of our children?

MN House Candidates
MN Senate Candidates
Yes
95%
100%
No
1%
0%
No Opinion
2%
0%

Comments: Candidates were also invited to add comments, all of which are posted on our website.

9/25/02

“If more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place in which to live.”
-President John F. Kennedy

We thought you might be interested in the following information, which is being forwarded to you from the MN Alliance for Arts in Education, the organizers of the event:

———————————————-

Arts Learning Alert!

Get Informed on the Candidates

Conversation with the Gubernatorial Campaigns
Wednesday, October 2, 2002
3:30 to 4:30 PM
Performance Hall
Perpich Center for Arts Education
6125 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, MN
(Just south of the Douglas Drive exit from Highway 55)

The following people will represent the four campaigns in a discussion about the arts in the schools:

Moe Campaign÷confirmed Senator Julie Sabo (candidate for Lt. Governor)
Pawlenty Campaign÷confirmed Representative Ron Abrams (campaign advisor)
Penny Campaign÷confirmed Senator Martha Roberston (candidate for Lt. Governor)
Pentel Campaign÷invited, not confirmed
Each participant will give a brief presentation in response to the following question: In the current economic times, under pressure to define and fund “basic” education, will you support arts in the schools? There will also be a question and answer session with the audience. Please attend this important event. Not only will you be better informed to vote in the upcoming election÷you will be able to engage these prominent policy makers in dialogue about the future role of state government in improving the quality of arts learning available to our young people.

RSVP requested to Kathleen Maloney at the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, kathleen@allarts4allkids.org or call Linnea at 651/917-1872. From Greater Minnesota, call 1-800-883-MAAE. Feel free to forward this Alert to your colleagues. All are welcome to attend.

9/20/02

1. Charitable Deduction for Minnesota AMT Taxpayers Restored
2. MN Candidates for Governor Make Arts Views Known
3. More “Telling Our Stories” Advocacy 101 Seminars Offered.

1. Charitable Deduction for Minnesota AMT Taxpayers Restored

Recently, the MN State Supreme Court struck down an established provision is state law that allowed MN taxpayers who are subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT) to take a deduction for charitable contributions to MN nonprofits. Although this decision affects a relatively small group of wealthy Minnesotans, it includes some of our most generous philanthropists. The court ruled that limiting the deduction to in-state gifts discriminates against interstate commerce and said “no deduction is available for any charitable contributions” made by Minnesotans subject to the AMT. Some have estimated that the court’s ruling could cost the nonprofit community as much as $20 million in charitable giving this year. At the special session on Thursday, September 19, the legislature passed a bill to solve the problems caused by the court’s decision. The bill that passed allows AMT filers to fully deduct any contributions over 1.3% of their federal adjusted gross income. Saying this was a temporary solution, legislative leaders will try to make these charitable deductions fully deductible in the next legislative session in January, 2003.

2. MN Candidates for Governor Make Arts Views Known

Minnesota’s candidates for governor have been responding to MCA’s postcard campaign by sending their views on the arts to arts advocates. We will be publishing their responses in full on our website and will do more coverage on the candidates in the upcoming weeks. Below is a sample (in alphabetical order):

Roger Moe: “I have been a strong supporter of the arts in Minnesota and supported funding for bonding projects such as the Guthrie Theater, the Penumbra Theatre and the Hopkins Center for the Arts, as well as supporting tax exemptions for nonprofits. I recognize the importance the arts play in our lives and in our state. Minnesota’s history of support of the arts is a key reason we are consistently named one of the most livable states in the U.S., and if I am elected, I will continue to advocate for strengthening the role of the arts and cultural experiences in our communities.”

Tim Pawlenty: “Thank you so much for the postcard you sent. Your concern for the arts is admirable and I appreciate your taking the time to write me. It is the initiative of concerned citizens like you that make Minnesota such a great state to live in. I agree wholeheartedly that the arts enhance Minnesota’s quality of life. I assure you that whatever decisions arise that may impact the arts, I will thoroughly consider you concerns.”

Tim Penny: Has not yet responded.

Ken Pentel: “I will work to protect and add arts programs in schools and local communities. I want young people to trust their creative instincts. Our investment in the arts will continue to make Minnesota a place where people can learn, create, and be fully human.”

3. More “Telling Our Stories” Advocacy 101 Seminars Offered.

The Forum of Regional Arts Councils, in cooperation with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, presents: “Telling Our Stories: Advocating for the Arts in Your Community”

Who should go?
* Arts leaders and artists from your community, staff and board members
* Teachers, school board members, arts active parents/CAPP members
* People who believe in and advocate for the arts

Why do we want you there?
* The understanding you have of your community - its arts successes and challenges - is information that others will want to learn.
* Your experiences are important
* Your continued arts leadership as well as your ability to pass on training to new leaders is needed.

How can you use the skills learned at the workshop?
* New tools, statistics and strategies acquired will help you influence decision-makers in your community to support the arts more generously
* New, beneficial connections within your community and with others in your region will help you collaborate for joint projects more effectively.
* The innovative and exciting success stories of others will ignite you to try new ideas or continue to pursue your current arts agenda.
* You will become aware of strategic points of pressure in town, city and school district systems that might increase the arts programming in your community

Saturday, September 28, 9:30 am -3:30 pm Montevideo Public Library, Montevideo, MN RSVP deadline: September 23

Saturday, October 26, 9:00am - 3:00 pm Lake Superior College, Duluth MN RSVP deadline: October 21

TO REGISTER: Registration is $15 and includes lunch. Please make checks payable to the RAC Forum and mail to:

Geri Katz, RAC Forum, 2233 University Avenue West, Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114
OR Call Geri Katz at 651-251-0868 and leave your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

9/13/02

Charitable Deduction for Minnesota AMT Taxpayers Struck Down by State Supreme Court; Can We Fix it in the Special Session Next Week?

Recently, the Minnesota State Supreme Court struck down an established provision in state law that allowed Minnesota taxpayers who are subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT) to take a deduction for charitable contributions to Minnesota nonprofits. Although this decision affects a relatively small group of wealthy Minnesotans, it includes some of our most generous philanthropists. The court ruled that limiting the deduction to in-state gifts discriminates against interstate commerce and said “no deduction is available for any charitable contributions” made by Minnesotans subject to the AMT.

Some have estimated that the court’s ruling could cost the nonprofit community as much as $20 million in charitable giving this year. The state legislature can take action to fix this problem, but it needs to do so quickly.

The Governor has agreed to call a special session at Noon on Thursday, September 19 to address flood relief. He has not yet agreed to include the alternative minimum tax (AMT) charitable deduction on the agenda.

PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE (651-296-3391) and ask him to support resolving this issue during the special session. “Please restore the AMT charitable deduction during the special session.” The Supreme Court ruling has stripped an important and established incentive for charitable giving from Minnesota law. The problem needs to be resolved immediately to avoid a loss of charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations at a time we need them most.

9/9/02

VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ON TUESDAY

On Tuesday, September 10, 2002 you have an opportunity to vote for candidates in a variety of offices in the primary election. This preliminary step in the voting process is the way that the field is narrowed to one for each office for the partisan candidates in the four major parties in Minnesota (DFL, Republican, Green and Independence) and to the top two candidates in the non-partisan races.

IT MATTERS WHO GETS ELECTED. Simply put that means some one you want to see elected might be eliminated from the ballot on Tuesday. This includes candidates for Governor, State Senate and House, US Congress and many SCHOOL BOARDS. So get out and vote.

To find out where to vote, how to register, and who the state office candidates are, go to the Secretary of State’s website. To find out what and local and county offices are up for election, check with your city clerk or county auditor. There are links to many local and county web sites here . About a week after the primary, MCA will post on our website the answers candidates have made to our survey on their opinions on the arts. Check out www.mtn.org/mca soon!

8/21/02

NEWS from Minnesota Citizens for the Arts:

1. Arts Advocacy Seminars Offered in Greater Minnesota
2. Help Elect an Arts Governor

Arts Advocacy Seminars Offered in Greater Minnesota

The Forum of Regional Arts Councils, in cooperation with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, presents: “Telling Our Stories: Advocating for the Arts in Your Community”

Who should go?
* Arts leaders and artists from your community
* Arts organization staff and board members
* Teachers, school board members, arts active par-ents/CAPP members
* People who believe in and advocate for the arts
* Legislators

Why do we want you there?
* The understanding you have of your community - its arts successes and challenges - is information that others will want to learn.
* Your experiences are important
* Your continued arts leadership as well as your ability to pass on training to new leaders is needed.

How can you use the skills learned at the workshop?
* New tools, statistics and strategies acquired will help you influence decision-makers in your community to support the arts more generously
* New, beneficial connections within your community and with others in your region will help you collaborate for joint projects more effectively.
* The innovative and exciting success stories of others will ignite you to try new ideas or continue to pursue your current arts agenda.
* You will become aware of strategic points of pressure in town, city and school district systems that might increase the arts programming in your community

Dates and Locations

Thursday, September 5,
11:30 am-4:00 pm The Inn at Maple Crossing, Mentor, MN
RSVP deadline: August 30

Saturday, September 28,
9:30 am -3:30 pm Montevideo Public Library, Montevideo, MN
RSVP deadline: September 23

Saturday, October 26,
9:00am - 3:00 pm Lake Superior College, Duluth MN
RSVP deadline: October 21

TO REGISTER:
Registration is $15 and includes lunch. Please make checks payable to the RAC Forum and mail to:
Geri Katz
RAC Forum
2233 University Avenue West, Suite 355
St. Paul, MN 55114

OR Call Geri Katz at 651-251-0868 and leave your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

Do Your Part to Elect an Arts Governor!

Arts Advocates have already sent thousands of postcards to the major party candidates for Governor, urging them to make the arts part of their agendas. Any one of the current candidates for Governor could win the race this fall. This is a perfect opportunity to ensure that the next Governor of Minnesota is an Arts Governor. It is imperative that all of the candidates understand the importance and impact of the arts in Minnesota.

If you haven’t sent your cards yet, please send them soon! The first set of postcards covered candidates Roger Moe (D), Tim Pawlenty (R), and Ken Pentel (G). We also have new cards available to send to Independence Party candidate Tim Penny. If you would like one, please call MCA at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

If you’ve already sent your cards, but would like to give some to your friends, family, coworkers, volunteers or board members, let us know!

8/1/02

1. Be a Part of the Governor’s Postcard Campaign
2. Minnesota Prepares for Next Round of Cuts
3. NEA Positioned for $10 million Increase
4. Minneapolis and St. Cloud Part of National Arts Economic Impact Study
5. MN Legislative Arts All Stars
6. MCA Board Positions Open

1. BE A PART OF THE GOVERNOR’S POSTCARD CAMPAIGN
Any one of the current candidates for Governor could win the race this fall. This is a perfect opportunity to ensure that the next Governor of Minnesota is an Arts Governor. It is imperative that all of the candidates understand the importance and impact of the arts in Minnesota! For this reason, MCA has printed and mailed 30,000 postcard sets to arts advocates across the state. It includes cards to all of the current candidates Moe, Pawlenty, and Pentel (except Penny, who announced after the cards had been printed). You may have already received and sent out your cards. Many thousands of responses have already reached candidateâs offices. Some candidates are responding to the postcards to talk about their stand on the arts. This is exactly what we’d hoped for. We have 4000 additional cards at the office, and are printing additional cards to send to Tim Penny. If you’d like to share them with your friends, relatives, staff, or audiences, weâd be happy to give you as many as you can mail. Call MCA at 651-251-0868 or email mca@mtn.org to find out how to get more postcards. Let’s make the arts part of every candidate’s agenda!

2. MINNESOTA PREPARES FOR NEXT ROUND OF CUTS
Last session, when the state faced a huge deficit, we lobbied to keep cuts to the arts at 4%. It was a very difficult session and the arts could have faced much larger cuts. Unfortunately, the state’s deficit problem has grown even worse. It was even reported this week that state agencies have been asked by the Finance Dept. to prepare draft budgets for the next 2003 session that show an additional 10% cut. Economic indicators for Minnesota show that we will clearly have an enormous deficit to deal with next session, and we are going to have to work very hard to preserve the gains the arts have made in the last many years. Stay tuned.

3. NEA POSITIONED FOR $10 MILLION INCREASE
We hear better news from Washington, where on July 17, 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a vote of 234 to 192 to increase FY 03 funding for the National Endowment for the Arts by $10 million and the National Endowment for the Humanities by $5 million. Compared to last year, support for these cultural agencies continues to gain support. Last year 33 Republicans voted for the arts increase, whereas this year, 42 Republicans voted for the increase. That’s quite significant and increasingly reclaims the arts as a bipartisan issue! All of Minnesota’s Democratic members voted for the increase, and should be thanked. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) was also one of the Republicans that voted for the increase. The appropriation must go through many more steps before it becomes a reality. It could mean an increase in arts funding in Minnesota of about $100,000.

4. MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. CLOUD PART OF NATIONAL ARTS ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY
“Arts & Economic Prosperity: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts Organizations and Their Audiences” released on June 10, 2002, reveals that America’s nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year, including $24.4 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues. The $134 billion total includes $53.2 billion in spending by arts organizations and $80.8 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences. Minneapolis and St. Cloud are two of the cities studied. The Minneapolis study showed $269,433,035 in nonprofit arts industry spending, with 8504 full time equivalent jobs. The St. Cloud study showed $9,824,787 in nonprofit arts industry spending, with 370 full time equivalent jobs. For more information and detail on the Minneapolis and St. Cloud studies, go to: http://americansforthearts.org/economicimpact/

5. “LEGISLATIVE ARTS ALL STARS”
MCA would like to highlight and thank some of our many friends at the legislature who have been especially helpful to the arts community in the past session. In appreciation for their work, we will name a few Legislative Arts All Stars in upcoming Arts Alerts.

Here are three of our friends:

SENATOR JANE KRENTZ
Hometown: May Township
Year Elected: 1992
Favorite Art Form: Theater
“I have worked at the Guthrie Theater for 31 years, and I have seen first hand the importance of the arts in the lives of Minnesotans. My children and I have participated in the arts for many years. We know how critical it is for families to have access tot he arts. We are lucky to live in a state that supports and treasures the arts.”

REPRESENTATIVE SONDRA ERICKSON
Hometown: Princeton
Year Elected: 1988
Favorite Art Form: Song and instrument, performance on stage, or oil painting
“Arts across Minnesota provide our citizens with a canvas of artistic expression, helping all to understand that in each common thing some beauty glows; that loveliness is always near at hand, whether the performer is a professional or amateur. The commitment by members of our local arts board proves how important the arts are in our daily lives. I thank them for bringing such wonderful variety to us.”

REPRESENTATIVE TOM RUKAVINA
Hometown: Virginia
Year Elected: 1986
“I support the arts because my wife has a master’s degree in the arts and is an artist in her own right. She has educated me on the benefits of the arts to society. As she has said to me many times to emphasize her point, “repressive governments do not go after bankers and businessmen, but artists who make people think and dream with their work.”

6. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR MCA’s BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Serving on MCA’s board is a fun way to get to know people from across the state who love the arts and who work in advocacy. Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is soliciting nominations for its Board of Trustees for terms which last for two years and will begin in September, 2002. 36 Members represent amazingly diverse perspectives of our state’s arts community. INTERESTED? Send in a nominations form by August 15, 2002. Click here for a nomination form.

7. We want YOU! Are you a Member?
MCA is funded entirely by the dues of its members. Do you appreciate receiving up to the minute news on the fate of the arts in the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress? We could not provide Arts Alerts if it weren’t for the wonderful and committed arts advocates who show their commitment by joining MCA. You can join by clicking here for our membership form. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

7/1/02

NEWS FROM MINNESOTA CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS:

1. Election season begins. Do you know who your candidates are?
2. MCA Pushes to Make Support for the Arts Part of Every Candidate’s Agenda
3. Congress Votes to Increase Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts
4. Nominations Open for MCA Board Positions

1. ELECTION SEASON HAS BEGUN. DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR CANDIDATES ARE?

Legislative district lines have been redrawn and dozens of legislators have announced their retirement. This means there will be many, many new faces at the capitol next session who need to learn about the importance of the arts to our state. Over the next several months MCA will be in high gear educating political candidates about the importance of the arts, as well as educating arts advocates about the candidates. Upcoming efforts include:

“Legislative Arts All Stars” will be listed in our next newsletter, sent to members statewide.
A survey of legislative candidates will be conducted to find out where they stand on the arts.
MCA’s website will be updated with candidate profiles, based on our survey and other information, so you can find out how your local candidates stand on the arts.
Coffee parties will be held in targeted districts across the state, where we will meet face to face with candidates and their constituents to talk about the arts in their district.
Voter information will be mailed to all MCA members, so you can find out about your new district and who your candidates are.
A huge postcard mailing will be done to ask candidates for Governor to make the arts part of their agenda.
2. BE A PART OF THE GOVERNOR’S POSTCARD CAMPAIGN

Any one of the current candidates for Governor could win the race this fall. This is a perfect opportunity to ensure that the next Governor of Minnesota is an Arts Governor. It is imperative that all of the candidates understand the importance and impact of the arts in Minnesota! In the 2002 legislative session, Governor Ventura’s record was mixed: On one hand, he recommended only a 7% cut to the arts appropriation. (In this time of budget deficits it was a small cut in comparison to proposed cuts to other Minnesota departments, and was small compared to cuts to other state arts funding around the country. Members of MCA lobbied to reduce this to a 4% cut). However, Governor Ventura also vetoed all of the arts bonding requests recommended by both houses of the legislature. Let’s make the arts part of every candidate’s agenda! We want the next Governor to understand that Minnesotans need and value the arts! MCA has printed and mailed 30,000 postcard sets to arts advocates across the state. It includes cards to all of the current candidates (except Penny, who announced after the cards had been printed). We have 7,000 additional cards at the office. If you’d like to send them to your friends, relatives, staff, or audiences, we’d be happy to give you as many as you can mail. Call MCA at 651-251-0868 or email mca@mtn.org to find out how to get more postcards. If you are on MCA’s mailing list, you will receive the cards in the mail in the next few weeks.

3. HOUSE AND SENATE MONEY BILLS TO INCREASE ARTS FUNDING

Last week, House and Senate appropriations panels approved funding increases in 2003 for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). On June 25 the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee passed an increase from $115.2 to $116.5 million as requested in the president’s budget. On June 27, the Senate Appropriations Committee bettered the House bill by adding $3.25 million, putting the NEA at $119 million in 2003. The additional NEA spending in the Senate’s bill includes $2 million for the Challenge America program, which has gained popular support from Congress for its emphasis on arts education and broadening access to the arts. Minnesota is a recipient of some of this money. Similar spending increases were also approved for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), with the House raising NEH funding from $124.5 million to $126 million, and the Senate adding $3.25 million (as it did with the NEA), directing the new funding to state humanities councils. The House bill is scheduled to go to the full Appropriations Committee during the week of July 8, when Congress returns from a week long July 4 recess. Both House and Senate bills could be brought for floor votes before the August recess.

4. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR MCA’s BOARD OF TRUSTEES

36 Members Represent Amazingly Diverse Perspectives of our State’s Arts Community. Serving on MCA’s board is a fun way to get to know people from across the state who love the arts and who work in advocacy. Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is soliciting nominations for its Board of Trustees for terms which last for two years and will begin in September, 2002.

INTERESTED? Send in a nominations form by August 15, 2002. Click here for a nominations form. MCA’s bylaws require the following make-up of the board:

One Trustee from each of the eleven Regional Arts Councils geographic areas (thus ensuring representation from every corner of the state),
Ten Trustees representing organizations receiving MN State Arts Board grants, and
Fifteen trustees at large.
Of this group,

eighteen Trustees must be from the seven county metro area, and
Eighteen Trustees must be from outside the seven county metro area.
MCA’s overall preferences in Board nominations are that board members be willing to work and to come to meetings, that they participate in Advocacy Day and will be a vocal advocate for the arts. Nominees with political connections, political strategists and people with an understanding of the political process are particularly welcome, although that is not necessary if you are willing to start making those kinds of connections. MCA would like to have a balance of political party affiliations represented on the board, as well as balanced representation of the state and the arts community (i.e. artists, diversity in terms of race, age, etc.). People who have the ability to communicate MCA’s message with the public and/or within their own organizations are desired. MCA has full board meetings four times each year, Advocacy Day in February, a day-long board retreat in the fall, and other small committee meetings as needed. The Nominations committee will begin considering nominees for board openings soon.

5/22/02

CONTENTS:

Governor Vetoes All Arts Projects!
Arts Appropriation Still Unaffected
“Telling Our Stories: Advocating for the Arts in Your Community”
Arts Education Community Meeting: Politics and Policy in 2003
“Rules of the Game: Nonprofits and Election-Year Activities.”
Minnesota State Grants & Contracts Survey
Governor Vetoes All Arts Projects!

We are very disappointed to report that today the Governor vetoed all of the arts projects recommended by the legislature in the bonding bill. He vetoed money that the legislature had appropriated for: the Bloomington Arts Center ($1M), the Children’s Theater in Mpls. ($5M), The Rochester Art Center ($1M), the Guthrie Theatre in Mpls. ($24M), and the Trollwood Art Center (school) ($5.5M).

The Governor vetoed almost half of the dollars allocated in the bill (about $400 million in projects altogether). The veto message was 14 pages long. In addition, the Governor also vetoed $9.5M for the Mpls. Planetarium, $2.7M for the Como Conservatory, many parks and trails projects, the Asia Trail at the MN Zoo, $5M for the National Sports Center Conference Center, $3M for the National Volleyball Center in Rochester, money for the Grand Rapids Discovery Museum, the St. Cloud Convention Center, the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, and $725,000 for MN Historical Society projects, including the Pipestone County Museum.

Despite the fact that the arts community’s cooperative effort convinced the entire legislature of the worthiness of the arts bonding projects, the Governor vetoed them anyway. The appropriations had been approved by both the full House and the full Senate last weekend, representing legislative districts statewide. All affected organizations will now go into a stage of reevaluation of what their building schedule and plans will be in light of the Governor’s action.

The only good news to report is that the appropriation to the Perpich Center for Arts Education of $768,000 was not vetoed. In addition, the MN Zoo’s $3M for “asset preservation” was not vetoed, nor was $3.242M in asset preservation and other projects for the MN Historical Society. You can view the whole list of vetoes at: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/press_releases.html

Arts Appropriation Still Unaffected

As previously reported, the second phase deficit reduction bill, passed over the weekend, included no additional cuts to the arts. This is great news because the House had originally proposed cutting an additional 3% from arts funding, which wasn’t included in the final bill. This puts total cuts to the arts for the entire session at 4%, done in the first phase of the stateâs deficit reduction package. The cuts will be evenly spread between the Regional Arts Councils, State Arts Board Grants, and the State Arts Board’s Operations budget. Grants and technical assistance from the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils reaches every Minnesota county, statewide, so this 4% cut will affect everyone. However, it could have been much worse. Additional good news was the restoration of operating funding previously cut from the Perpich Center for Arts Education.

“Telling Our Stories: Advocating for the Arts in Your Community” Back By Popular Demand!

Two new Advocacy 101 Workshops have been scheduled in Greater Minnesota, presented by Minnesota’s Forum of Regional Arts Councils in cooperation with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education. This workshop is for arts leaders and artists from your community, arts organization staff and board members, teachers, school board members, arts active parents/CAPP members, in fact, all people who believe in and advocate for the arts.

Friday, June 7, Northland Community & Technical College, Thief River Falls, 1:00 - 5:30 pm

or -

Saturday, June 29, St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center (The Depot), Duluth ,9:00 am- 3:00 pm

You will learn:

New tools, statistics and strategies acquired will help you influence decision-makers in your community to support the arts more generously
New, beneficial connections within your community and with others in your region will help you collaborate for joint projects more effectively.
The innovative and exciting success stories of others will ignite you to try new ideas or continue to pursue your current arts agenda.
You will become aware of strategic points of pressure in town, city and school district systems that might increase the arts programming in your community.
Session Leaders include: “Fundamentals of Advocacy”: led by Sheila M. Smith , Minnesota Citizens for the Arts’ Executive Director. “Speaking with One Voice”: led by Kathleen Maloney, Executive Director of the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education. The Duluth conference will also feature: “Telling Your Story”: led by Loren Niemi , storyteller and community organizer.

Registration: Registration fee: $15.00 per person. Please send a check, payable to the RAC Forum, along with your name, address, daytime phone number and e-mail address to: Geri Katz, Forum of Regional Arts Councils, 2233 University Avenue West, Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114, Phone: (651) 251-0868, e-mail: mca@mtn.org.

Arts Education Community Meeting: Politics and Policy in 2003

The MN Alliance for Arts Education works to ensure that the arts are available to kids in Minnesota’s public schools. The Alliance invites you to a preliminary discussion to help shape their Arts Education Advocacy Platform for 2003. Arts Education Community Meeting: Politics and Policy in 2003 will be held on Thursday, May 30, 4-6 PM. Hosted by Intermedia Arts, at 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minnesota. (For directions visit their web site at www.intermediaarts.org). The November election will bring big changes in the state legislature, the Governor’s office and the Department of Children, Families and Learning÷changes that could be opportunities for new strides for arts education policy and resources or challenges to our hard won gains. To fulfill our vision of leading the dialogue and action needed to enhance and elevate support and commitment for arts education, we need advice from the field.

What would you like to see happen for arts education in the legislative arena in the next four years?
What are the next steps with statewide standards, assessments, professional development, or arts education funds?
How should we educate candidates on arts education needs?
How can the Alliance mobilize arts education advocates to get out and vote?
Registration: RSVP by May 28 to kathleen@allarts4allkids.org or call the Alliance at 651-917-9000.

“Rules of the Game: Nonprofits and Election-Year Activities.”

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota, The Minnesota Community Action Association, and Minnesota Environmental Partnership and others invite you to:

Rules of the Game: Nonprofits and Election-Year Activities.
Friday, June 28, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Machinistsâ Labor Temple, 1399 Eustis Avenue, St. Paul (near Hwy. 280 & Como Avenue)

The elections are coming! Is your nonprofit ready to be an effective player in this election year and still stay within the rules that govern nonprofits? Will your candidate forum, voter guide, or voter registration effort pass muster with state and federal regulators? This workshop will explain how your 501(c)(3) organization can educate voters about your issues and the candidates. If you have a 501(c)(4) or political committee you can take a more partisan stance on the candidates. At this workshop you’ll learn the federal and state laws that you need to follow. Participants will receive copies of the Alliance for Justice publication “The Rules of the Game: An Election Year Legal Guide for Nonprofit Organizations.” Featured speaker: John Pomeranz, Alliance for Justice, Washington D.C. This workshop is for nonprofit staff, boards, volunteers and donors. The fee is $15 per person, which includes snacks, materials and lunch. Please register early to avoid disappointment– space is limited! Registration: call the MN Council of Nonprofits at 651/642-1904 or download the form from www.mncn.org/events.htm

Minnesota State Grants & Contracts Survey

Minnesota Council of Non-Profits is launching a first of its kind study of the system and procedures by which the State of Minnesota solicits, awards, administers, and evaluates grants and contracts to Minnesota nonprofit organizations. A critical first step in this study involves asking you, as a nonprofit organization in Minnesota, about your experiences with the state’s grants and contracts process. We need to hear not only from organizations that receive state grants or contracts, but also from organizations that have been unsuccessful in acquiring state money and those who have never applied. Your participation and input in this study will help us understand if problems exist in the current system. This information will shape MCN’s future public policy work to address any problems and promote needed systems reforms. So please take the time to complete the survey by clicking on the link above. Who should take this survey? Every financially active nonprofit organization in Minnesota - whether you currently receive grants or contracts, have received them in the past, or have never applied. Who should fill the survey out? Someone who is familiar with your organization’s funding, such as your Executive Director or Development Director, should complete the survey. How long will it take to complete? Approximately 20 to 30 minutes if you currently receive a state grant or contract. If you do not currently receive any funding, it will probably take about 10 minutes. When is the deadline? We ask that you complete the survey by May 31, 2002. If you have any other questions, please contact Christina Macklin at MCN: cmacklin@mncn.org or 651-642-1904 x233, or go directly to: http://www.mncn.org/survey.htm

You can receive Arts Alerts Instantly!
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We want YOU! Are you a Member?

MCA is funded entirely by the dues of its members. Do you appreciate receiving up to the minute news on the fate of the arts in the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress? We could not provide Arts Alerts if it weren’t for the wonderful and committed arts advocates who show their commitment by joining MCA. You can join by clicking here for our membership form. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

http://www.mtn.org/mca

MCA’s website has been updated. The latest facts and figures about the arts community can be found in the Arts Facts section. Check it out!

5/16/02

Yesterday, the legislature finally passed the second phase deficit reduction bill, which included no additional cuts to the arts. This is great news, because the House had originally proposed cutting an additional 3% from arts funding. The additional cut wasn’t included in the final bill. This puts total cuts to the arts for the entire session at 4%, which was done in the first phase of the state’s deficit reduction package. The cuts will be evenly spread between the Regional Arts Councils, State Arts Board Grants, and the State Arts Boardâs Operations budget. Grants and technical assistance from the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils reaches every Minnesota county, statewide, so this 4% cut will affect everyone. However, it could have been much worse. Thank you to all who attended Arts Advocacy Day and called or wrote legisators this session.

Additional good news was the restoration of funding that had been previously cut from the Perpich Center for Arts Education operating budget.

Jury Still Out On Arts Bonding Projects

The legislature still has not come to a final agreement on the bonding bill, leaving funding for all of the arts projects still uncertain. As of this writing, all but the Northrop renovation still remain in the bill. Originally, the legislature had planned to complete their bonding bill on Monday. The Governor would have had three days to sign or line item veto various projects, and the legislature would have come back on Saturday to attempt any veto overrides. However, there was such disagreement over how to handle transportation projects (particularly the North Star line, which would be a new commuter line between St. Cloud and the Twin Cities) that negotiations completely collapsed. Now, either the legislature passes a bonding package and the Governor gets to veto whatever he wants, or they don’t pass a bonding bill at all. Neither of these scenarios are good news for arts projects.