12/19/03

Arts Advocacy Day will be Feb. 24, 2004
“ARTS MATTER. WE CAN PROVE IT.”
Former Minnesota Governors Recieve Non Profit Allies Award from MCN

1. Arts Advocacy Day will be Feb. 24, 2004 Save the Date!

You are invited to Arts Advocacy Day 2004 at the Minnesota History Center and State Capitol in St. Paul. The arts need you! Arts advocates must mobilize to make sure legislators understand the impact of last year’s cuts. At MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day, representatives of all parts of Minnesota’s extraordinary arts community come together for one day to: talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota. There will be artists, rural choirs, suburban community theaters, presenters, big organizations, museums, art centers of all sizes, painters, tenors, dancers, cellists, arts administrators, arts lovers and everyone else you can think of joining together for this big day.

Get it on your calendar now! Registration form available.

2. “ARTS MATTER. WE CAN PROVE IT.”

On January 30th, from 9:00a.m. to 12:30 p.m., there will be a meeting at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts to release the results of the PARC (Performing Arts Research Coalition) Study.

In 2002, the Twin Cities was invited to join the second round of a national research initiative, the goal of which is to strengthen the ability of performing arts organizations to collectively gather, analyze, and apply research about their impact, activities and importance. A large number of Twin Cities organizations participated in the research.

To RSVP for the data release event, call 612-872-5199 or e-mail nsouvenir@childrenstheatre.org

Preliminary data includes:

85% of Twin Citians agree that Performing Arts improve the quality of life.
92% of Twin Citians agree that Performing Arts contribute to the education and development of children.
86% of Twin Citians believe that Performing Arts promote understanding of other people and a different way of life.
Some of this data will be very useful in making our case with Minnesota’s legislators and Congresspeople.

PARC is a partnership among five major national service organizations in the performing arts: American Symphony Orchestra League, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Dance/USA, OPERA America and Theatre Communications Group. It is supported by a three year #2.7 million grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts. the Urban Institute is the project’s research partner. For information about the PARC project, go to www.operaamerica.org/parc.

3. Former Minnesota Governors Recieve Non Profit Allies Award from MCN

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Council of Non-Profits gave its “Non-Profit Public Allies” award to the four living Minnesota governors who, as a group, came out this year to oppose a “cut programs only” approach to budget balancing, saying that all of the cuts were harmful to the state and to their legacies as Governors. The award went to former Governors Arne Carlson, Wendell Anderson, Elmer L. Andersen and Al Quie. They advocated for a more balanced, non-partisan approach, and they took their message to the media, wrote articles for the newspapers, and appeared as a group at public forums during session. (Gov. Carlson even testified on behalf of the arts in the House!) I was the presenter for the awards.

Although Arne Carlson couldn’t come to Tuesday’s event, the other three gave inspiring speeches about “public service and the common good.” Elmer Andersen was particularily articulate about how, as Minnesotans, we work together to solve problems, and how important non-profits are as the “heart” of our state. But the most important thing I took away from the day is that there are many, many people in Minnesota who are worried about the common good and see that the best way to solve our society’s problems is to work together, with a balanced approach, to find solutions. I wish I could send you a transcript of what they said. I was reenergized and inspired, and enjoyed talking with the Governors as a group before and after the presentation. How often to you get to be in the same room with three Governors? I hope you all have a happy holidays. We’ll come back in January ready for the next fight.

Sincerely, Sheila Smith

11/7/03

1. Success in Washington D.C.: Congress Agrees to Increase NEA Funding by $6.7 million
2. Rep. Oberstar Helps Save Transportation Enhancements
3. 2003 Report on Minnesota’s Nonprofit Economy

1. Success in Washington D.C.: Congress Agrees to Increase NEA Funding by $6.7 million

On November 3, 2003, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the final conference committee agreement on the Interior Appropriations Bill for 2004, setting spending for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at $122.480 million, an increase of $6.7 million over 2003. $5 million of the new funding will be for grants to arts organizations, while $1.7 million will cover increased administrative expenses.

The House had already approved the bill, so the measure goes directly to the White House for the president’s signature. The NEA’s funding increase includes $1.7 million for administrative costs, as proposed in the president’s 2004 budget, and $5 million in new spending for Challenge America, down from $10 million in the original House bill. Since 40 percent of the NEA’s program funds are legislated for state arts agencies, that means that $2 million of the $5 million in new funding is reserved for Challenge America state partnerships.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is set to receive $137 million, an increase of $12.1 million over 2003. $10 million of the increase will be directed towards the “We the People” initiative on American history and civics. This advocacy success will mean increased arts funds coming to Minnesota. Congratulations to Americans for the Arts for their great advocacy efforts!

2. Rep. Oberstar Helps Save Transportation Enhancements

The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 4 approved an amendment to restoring funding for transportation enhancements. The effect of the action is to ensure that the enhancements program - which funds transportation-related public art programs, historic preservation and renovation, and many other kinds of projects as well as bicycle and pedestrian trails - will continue to receive a fixed percentage of federal surface transportation dollars.The margin of the vote and its bipartisan nature bode well for the future of transportation enhancements. In the end, the House was simply unwilling to go along with killing a program that has distributed over billions of dollars for community-generated projects in the past twelve years. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) stood and spoke in favor of keeping these dollars available. Thank you to Rep. Oberstar! 2365 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-6211 Contact form: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

3. 2003 Report on Minnesota’s Nonprofit Economy

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits released the 2003 Minnesota Nonprofit Economy Report at its Annual Conference at the beginning of October. This report is an excellent source of current economic information on the nonprofit sector in Minnesota. The report shows that 2002 was a year of growth for much of Minnesota’s nonprofit economy. However, preliminary data for 2003 reveals that this year will likely tell a different story as the effects of the recession begin to impact nonprofit budgets. The report includes both statewide and regional level data.

Some highlights:

Minnesota’s nonprofits saw a rate of growth surpassing the rest of the economy in 2002. The nonprofit workforce grew by 3.5% from 2001 to 2002. During the same period of time, total employment in the state actually declined by 1%. Nonprofit employees now account for over 9.5% of the state’s total workforce.
Although average weekly wages for nonprofit employees continue to lag behind wages for the for-profit and government sectors, median hourly wages for full-time nonprofit employees were generally competitive with for-profit wages in the same industries.
Revenues for charitable organizations reflect the nonprofit sector’s mixed economy. For example, nonprofit organizations with assets under $1 million in 2002 received 39% of their revenue from program services, 31% from charitable contributions, 22% from government grants, 5% from investments and sales, and 3% from membership dues.
While the nonprofit sector showed strong growth in 2002, we know the recession will make 2003 a different story. Nonprofits tend to experience economic downturns one to two years after the rest of the economy. And now all major nonprofit revenue sources are down at the same time - foundation grants, individual contributions, and government receipts. The complete 20-page report can be downloaded for free at www.mncn.org/nper.htm

11/7/03

1. Success in Washington D.C.: Congress Agrees to Increase NEA Funding by $6.7 million
2. Rep. Oberstar Helps Save Transportation Enhancements
3. 2003 Report on Minnesota’s Nonprofit Economy

1. Success in Washington D.C.: Congress Agrees to Increase NEA Funding by $6.7 million

On November 3, 2003, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the final conference committee agreement on the Interior Appropriations Bill for 2004, setting spending for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at $122.480 million, an increase of $6.7 million over 2003. $5 million of the new funding will be for grants to arts organizations, while $1.7 million will cover increased administrative expenses.

The House had already approved the bill, so the measure goes directly to the White House for the president’s signature. The NEA’s funding increase includes $1.7 million for administrative costs, as proposed in the president’s 2004 budget, and $5 million in new spending for Challenge America, down from $10 million in the original House bill. Since 40 percent of the NEA’s program funds are legislated for state arts agencies, that means that $2 million of the $5 million in new funding is reserved for Challenge America state partnerships.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is set to receive $137 million, an increase of $12.1 million over 2003. $10 million of the increase will be directed towards the “We the People” initiative on American history and civics. This advocacy success will mean increased arts funds coming to Minnesota. Congratulations to Americans for the Arts for their great advocacy efforts!

2. Rep. Oberstar Helps Save Transportation Enhancements

The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 4 approved an amendment to restoring funding for transportation enhancements. The effect of the action is to ensure that the enhancements program - which funds transportation-related public art programs, historic preservation and renovation, and many other kinds of projects as well as bicycle and pedestrian trails - will continue to receive a fixed percentage of federal surface transportation dollars.The margin of the vote and its bipartisan nature bode well for the future of transportation enhancements. In the end, the House was simply unwilling to go along with killing a program that has distributed over billions of dollars for community-generated projects in the past twelve years. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) stood and spoke in favor of keeping these dollars available. Thank you to Rep. Oberstar! 2365 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-6211 Contact form: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

3. 2003 Report on Minnesota’s Nonprofit Economy

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits released the 2003 Minnesota Nonprofit Economy Report at its Annual Conference at the beginning of October. This report is an excellent source of current economic information on the nonprofit sector in Minnesota. The report shows that 2002 was a year of growth for much of Minnesota’s nonprofit economy. However, preliminary data for 2003 reveals that this year will likely tell a different story as the effects of the recession begin to impact nonprofit budgets. The report includes both statewide and regional level data.

Some highlights:

Minnesota’s nonprofits saw a rate of growth surpassing the rest of the economy in 2002. The nonprofit workforce grew by 3.5% from 2001 to 2002. During the same period of time, total employment in the state actually declined by 1%. Nonprofit employees now account for over 9.5% of the state’s total workforce.
Although average weekly wages for nonprofit employees continue to lag behind wages for the for-profit and government sectors, median hourly wages for full-time nonprofit employees were generally competitive with for-profit wages in the same industries.
Revenues for charitable organizations reflect the nonprofit sector’s mixed economy. For example, nonprofit organizations with assets under $1 million in 2002 received 39% of their revenue from program services, 31% from charitable contributions, 22% from government grants, 5% from investments and sales, and 3% from membership dues.
While the nonprofit sector showed strong growth in 2002, we know the recession will make 2003 a different story. Nonprofits tend to experience economic downturns one to two years after the rest of the economy. And now all major nonprofit revenue sources are down at the same time - foundation grants, individual contributions, and government receipts. The complete 20-page report can be downloaded for free at www.mncn.org/nper.htm

9/23/03

1. MINNESOTA CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON ARTS: ALL INVITED
2. REP. BETTY MCCOLLUM (D- St. Paul) GETS ARTS FRIENDLY FEDERAL BILL PASSED
3. OTHER ACTION ON FEDERAL ARTS ISSUES

1. MINNESOTA CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON ARTS: ALL INVITED Challenging times call for creative responses! In this spirit, the Minnesota Council on Foundations and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits invite you to join with your nonprofit colleagues at the first truly joint conference of the two organizations. The conference, “What’s Next for the State We’re In,” will be held October 1-2, 2003 at RiverCentre in St. Paul, and will be an opportunity for our joint memberships and the broader nonprofit and philanthropic community to engage in learning and discussions about the ways we can assess and address the issues facing us. At this conference, you will gain insight and information that will allow your organization to effectively respond to changes, and you will have the opportunity to engage in productive conversations with other arts organization executives and staff. The focus of this conference is on exploring the environment for all organizations in the sector and the potential for positive, productive ways to support Minnesotans and maintain the quality of life in our state.

As a special incentive to arts organizations, non-members may register at the MCN/MCF member fee if you indicate you are an arts organization on your registration form. In addition, a limited number of $40 scholarships have been provided by the Jerome Foundation and the McKnight Foundation are also available to enable your participation. Although the deadline has passed for the $40 scholarships, non MCN members may still register at the member rate. Conference registration deadline is September 25th.

The special sessions for arts and culture include: A half-day participatory session on Wednesday, October 1 with Jerry Yoshitomi, the former founding director of the Japanese-American Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Jerry will present “Looking for Silver Bullets: Building Greater Commitment to the Value of the Arts”. The session includes small group strategy discussions facilitated by Karen Mueller, Senior Program Officer for the Minnesota State Arts Board; Carlo Cuesta, co-founder and managing partner for Creation in Common; and Julie Dalgleish, Dalgleish and Associates and Director of the Bush Artists Fellowship Program. On Thursday, October 2, there will be a two-part issues discussion on Arts and Culture. In Part One, participants will work in small groups to discuss two key questions on the state of the arts in Minnesota. Part Two will focus on “What’s Next?” for Minnesota arts and culture organizations, and participants will focus on strategies to build, support and strengthen the arts and culture nonprofit sector.

For CEOs, executive directors, foundation trustees and nonprofit board members from MCF and MCN member organizations, there is an additional opportunity for networking and a special presentation about nonprofit and foundation governance and leadership from former Governor Elmer Andersen on Wednesday evening from 6:45 - 8:45 p.m. at a dinner at the Saint Paul Hotel. A separate registration fee of $60 is required.

To register, go online at www.mcf.org/conference. If you have questions about the conference or the dinner, please contact Melissa Eystad, MCF director of member services, at 612/335-3418 or meystad@mcf.org. ———————————————————

2. REP. BETTY MCCOLLUM (D- St. Paul) GETS ARTS FRIENDLY FEDERAL BILL PASSED On Tuesday, September 16, the House approved by voice vote a reauthorization bill for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Senate had already approved an identical version. Thus, a House-Senate conference will be unnecessary, and the bill goes straight to the President for his signature. The bill also included upward revisions in the liability limits for the federal art indemnity program, which helps to insure museum exhibitions that include works from foreign lenders. Substantial increases in insurance costs after September 11 made these revisions especially timely.

The indemnity bill was sponsored by our own Rep. Betty McCollum of St. Paul.

Rep.McCollum said, “after being appointed to the National Council on the Arts and visiting several museums in Minnesota, including the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, I became actively involved in this legislation. The Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act provides an opportunity to maintain an international exchange of the arts that is so important to our community.” To thank her, fill out the web contact form on Rep. McCollum’s website.

3. OTHER ACTION ON FEDERAL ARTS ISSUES

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS FUNDING
This past week, the Senate began floor debate on the FY 2004 Interior Appropriations bill. Debate was interrupted due to Hurricane Isabel, but it resumed today and will likely finish tomorrow. We do not anticipate that there will be a floor or manager’s amendment to increase NEA funding, since the amendment to increase museum funding failed earlier this month on the Senate floor. The NEA’s ultimate funding level for FY 2004 will be resolved by a conference with the House, which has approved a $10 million increase. It’s not too late to contact your senators regarding an increase in funding for the NEA. For most of September, Congress will try to finish work on all annual appropriations bills, including the Interior Appropriations bill that funds the NEA. Currently the House-approved level is $127.5 million, but the Senate Committee-recommended level is only $117.5 million. Visit our Online Advocacy Center page to send an electronic message to your senators on this issue.

ARTS EDUCATION AND MUSEUM FUNDING UPDATE
In other arts-related funding news, the Senate has approved $35.3 million for the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education. That provision now goes to conference with the House, which has initially approved zero funding for these programs, but may well accept the Senate’s funding level as in previous years. Also within this same education funding bill, the Senate approved level funding of $28.5 million for the Office of Museum Services within IMLS. Visit the Americans for the Arts website for more information.

MIXED NEWS ON TAX ISSUES: HOUSE MEMBERS URGED TO COSPONSOR H.R. 806
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7, its package of incentives for charitable giving, on Wednesday, September 17, by a vote of 408 to 13. The package included two of the three provisions supported by Americans for the Arts. Unfortunately, it did not include the tax provision allowing artists to take a fair market value deduction for giving their own work to nonprofits such as museums, libraries, and other organizations that use art to advance their mission. The good news: it includes the IRA rollover provision (which would allow people to roll over portions of their IRAs to charities without it being taxed) and the charitable giving deduction for taxpayers who do not itemize. Both of these bills would promote giving to non-profits. The bill now goes to a House-Senate conference committee. Americans for the Arts is working to persuade the committee to accept the Senate version with respect to the artist deduction. Americans for the Arts urges advocates to ask their House members to cosponsor H.R. 806, a stand-alone version of this artist deduction provision. If H.R. 806 attracts a large number of cosponsors, it may convince the House leadership to accede to the Senate version of the charitable giving package, which does include the deduction for artists as well as the two other House-approved provisions. Ask your representative to help.

HOUSE VOTES TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS
On Thursday, September 4, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to restore full mandatory funding for enhancements to transportation projects by a vote of 327 to 90. The enhancement funds that were at risk, amounting to more than $600 million annually, will remain available for use to support transportation-related public art projects as well as to mitigate the less attractive aspects of transportation projects by building hiking and biking trails, rehabilitating historic structures associated with transportation, and creating parks and public performance space, among other things. Click here for more information and to see how your House member voted on this amendment.

OTHER CULTURAL FUNDING
Finally, the Senate Commerce-Justice-State appropriations subcommittee took two steps of interest. First, it increased the total budget for the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which runs the international cultural exchange programs. It is within the discretion of State to use some of the increase for cultural exchange. Second, it zeroed out funding that the administration had requested to cover the cost of re-entering UNESCO. The House bill, conversely, contains full UNESCO funding but no increase for the Bureau Educational and Cultural Affairs. These issues also will have to be resolved in conference. If you have any questions, please contact Andy Finch at 202-371-2830, x159, or afinch@artsusa.org. More information about these issues, and links to Minnesota’s congresspeople can be found here.

7/18/03

1. U.S. HOUSE PASSES INCREASE IN ARTS FUNDING. HOW DID YOUR CONGRESSPERSON VOTE?
2. HOW DOES MINNESOTA BENEFIT FROM NEA FUNDING?
3. TAKE MCA’S SURVEY

1. U.S. HOUSE PASSES INCREASE IN ARTS FUNDING.
How did your Congressperson vote?

Thanks to you, and a national network of grassroots arts advocates, more than 1,500 messages were sent to the U.S. House of Representatives within 48 hours to help pass the Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment. Grassroots constituents were able to send messages to every member of the House, reaching all 435 congressional districts in every state across the country.

Americans for the Arts has recently updated their Online Advocacy Center with the specific voting records resulting from the Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment to increase arts funding and the Tancredo Amendment to cut it, which took place yesterday on July 17th. They’ve also created easy-to-use-customized messages to enable you to send electronic letters of thanks or disappointment to your Representatives based on their specific votes for these two amendments (see link below).

Here’s how Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation Voted:

A. Slaughter Amendment to Increase NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) funding by $10 million and NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) funding by $5 million

Pro-arts vote= YES

Betty McCollum (Dem, CD. 4)
Jim Oberstar (Dem., CD 7)
Colin Peterson (Dem. CD 8)
Jim Ramstad (Rep. CD 3)
Martin Sabo (Dem. CD 5)
Anti-arts vote= NO

Gil Gutknecht (Rep. CD 1)
Mark Kennedy (Rep. CD 6)
John Kline (Rep. CD 2)
B. Tancredo Amendment to cut NEA (National Endowment for the Artrs) FY04 funding by $57.4 million

Pro-arts vote= NO

Betty McCollum (Dem, CD. 4)
Jim Oberstar (Dem., CD 7)
Colin Peterson (Dem. CD 8)
Jim Ramstad (Rep. CD 3)
Martin Sabo (Dem. CD 5)
Anti-arts vote =YES

Gil Gutknecht (Rep. CD 1)
Mark Kennedy (Rep. CD 6)
John Kline (Rep. CD 2)
To send a message to your U.S. Representative expressing your gratitude or disappointment over their recent voting activity, please click here: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/?style=D Thanks again to everyone!

2. HOW DOES MINNESOTA BENEFIT FROM NEA FUNDING?

Minnesota benefits from National Endowment for the Arts funding in two ways. The first is through a block grant that goes to the Minnesota State Arts Board, a small portion of which is regranted around the state. The second is through direct grants to artists and arts organizations around the state. Recent, NEA grants went to:

Arts Midwest * Minnesota Public Radio * New Rivers Press * Children’s Theatre Company * COMPAS * In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre * Illusion Theatre * Intermedia Arts * Minneapolis Institute of Arts * Minnesota Center for Book Arts * Minnesota Chorale * Minnesota Con-temporary Ensemble * Minnesota Orchestra * Minnesota State Arts Board * Nritya Jyoti Dance Theatre * pARTS Photographic Arts * Ragamala Dance Theater * St. Paul Chamber Orchestra * Shawn McCon-neloug and Her Orchestra * Southern Theatre Foundation * American Composers Forum * FORECAST Public Artworks * Graywolf Press * Milkweed Editions * Mixed Blood Theatre Company * Plymouth Music Series * Asian Media Access * Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud * Joe Chvala and the Flying Foot Forum * Guthrie Theater * JAZZDANCE * The Loft * Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education * Penumbra Theater * Playwrights’ Center * Red Eye Collaboration * Theater Mu * Theatre de la Jeune Lune * Walker Art Center * and many, many others.

6/11/03

1. ARTS EDUCATION COMMUNITY GATHERING
2. THREE NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO MN STATE ARTS BOARD
3. TAKE MCA’S SURVEY

1. ARTS EDUCATION COMMUNITY GATHERING

The Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education is holding a conference for grassroots community arts and arts education leaders June 27-28 in Maple Grove in the North Metro area. They have extended the deadline to sign up for this very special gathering until June 14. Join Alliance Director Kathleen Maloney and like-minded, politcally-savvy, forward-thinking arts people. Refresh, rejuvenate and prepare for the next year. Special guests include Senator Steve Kelley and Representative Barb Sykora, K-12 education policy chairs who negotiated the inclusion of the arts in new MN standards. Other surprise guests, too. Print the brochure at http://www.allarts4allkids.org/ Return your registration to the Alliance via e-mail kathleen@allarts4allkids.org, or fax it to them at 651/917-8000 by June 14 to guarantee your space.

2. THREE NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO MN STATE ARTS BOARD

I thought you might be interested to know that three new people have been appointed to the Minnesota State Arts Board as of June 5, 2003. They replace former members Ben Vander Kooi, Penny Snipper, and Sara Barrows. The following information is from a press release from the Governor’s office:

Sarah Caruso, Diana Lewis, and Edward Oliver have been appointed to the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Sarah Caruso, of Hopkins, is a strategic planning and marketing consultant at Northampton Partners, a firm she founded in 1999. She previously served on the Board of the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and as Chair of the Board of the PACER Center, a nonprofit organization serving the needs of children and families with disabilities.

Diana Lewis, of Sunfish Lake, has been employed at Ecolab, Inc. in St. Paul since 1988. She is currently the Senior Vice President for Human Resources. She has served on the Board of Directors for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the MacPhail School of Music, the Metropolitan State University Foundation, and the Minneapolis YWCA.

Edward Oliver, of Deephaven, served in the State Senate from 1993-2003, representing the Lake Minnetonka area. He was instrumental in the cooperative effort to create the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Oliver and his wife Charty have been active members and participants in several community art organizations. Some of Oliver’s past community involvement includes work with the Minnesota Opera, Art on the Lake, the United Way, and the Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities

6/3/03

1. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE ARTS CUTS?
2. LETTER FROM MCA BOARD CHAIR
3. LEGISLATIVE ARTS ALL-STARS
4. FURTHER NOTES ON ARTS AS A CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT
5. SOME ARTS PROJECTS FUNDED BY STATE BONDING
6. CONCEAL AND CARRY AND NON-PROFITS

1. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE ARTS CUTS?

THE CUTS The Minnesota legislature approved a 32% reduction in arts funding, decreasing it from $12,616,000 to $8,593,000 per year for the next two years.

THE IMPACT–IN GENERAL: State arts funding gets out to every Minnesota county via the grants and services of the eleven Regional Arts Councils and the Minnesota State Arts Board. (To see a list of grantees from the last couple of years: http://www.mtn.org/mca/List.html). A cut of this size means that access to the arts will decrease all across the state, in every corner of Minnesota. There will be smaller and fewer grants, funding fewer artists and arts organizations, funding fewer programs and services. Small organizations will have less access to grants through the Regional Arts Councils. Individual artists funded by Regional Arts Council and State Arts Board grants will be affected too. Large and medium sized organizations will have less grant resources for programs and services, which will reduce access to the arts for Minnesotans at all levels. This comes on top of the already tough funding climate for the arts in Minnesota. Our February survey of the state’s arts organizations found that 65% were predicting deficits this year, even after layoffs, wage freezes, and cuts in programs.

THE IMPACT–SPECIFICS:

Statewide STATE ARTS BOARD GRANTS were cut by the legislature by just under 30%. In response, on Tuesday, June 3, the MSAB met and decided what programming changes they would have to make for FY04 (beginning 7/1/03) as a result of the cuts: The Arts Board voted to discontinue its Arts Across Minnesota program, which has supported festivals and touring, and to fold elements of the Folk Arts program into the individual artists category. The other grant categories will be simplified, and funds for each reduced. Arts in Education and programs for organizations will be reduced by 25%, and grants for individual artists reduced by 9%. More details on the new program structure, applications and deadlines will be developed in the next month, so check MSAB’s website at http://www.arts.state.mn.us/.
STATE ARTS BOARD OPERATIONS were cut by the legislature by 60%. Some state arts board operations are funded by NEA dollars, so the overall cut to the operations budget is 37%. This means they will have to lay off some of their staff. It is terrible that these good people join the ranks of those already laid off by arts organizations due to the bad economy, and who will probably still be laid off by arts organizations as a result of grants cuts.
REGIONAL ARTS COUNCILS were cut by slightly less than 30%. Each RAC is determining independently how they will respond to the reduction in resources. Some are reducing grant sizes, some are reducing programs, some are decreasing the number of grants made. Contact your own local Regional Arts Council to find out the impact in your area. http://www.arts.state.mn.us/artsmn/amn8.html
WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE ON YOU, YOUR PROGRAM OR ORGANIZATION?

We want to collect stories about the impact of these cuts for legislative testimony in the coming year. Please let us know what the specific impacts will be on you, your program, or your organization. Email anything you would like to share to: she-mca@mtn.org.

2. LETTER FROM MCA BOARD CHAIR

To all MCA members and supporters:

Although the results of this legislative session are not what any of us would wish, I take comfort in knowing that we did everything we could and that without our work, the situation would be much worse. MCA’s lobbyist, staff, volunteers and friends in the legislature worked very hard. We started well before the session began, trying every strategy known to man, and inventing a few new ones along the way. When I think about the fates of several other state arts councils around the country — some completely shut down, others losing well over half their funding — I am grateful we were able to protect as much as we did. State arts funding in Minnesota has survived and I believe we will someday recoup these losses. Thank you to everyone who helped in the fight. After a few weeks rest, the MCA staff and board will begin focusing our strength and energy to prepare for the next battle. We need your support more than ever.

-Barbara Davis, MCA Board Chair

3. LEGISLATIVE ARTS ALL-STARS

We like to say “thanks” to legislators who have been of great service to the arts community at the state capitol. Please thank these legislative friends for their help this session. This year’s Legislative Arts All-Stars are:

Senator Richard Cohen (D-St. Paul): Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Cohen has spent more than a decade as the arts greatest friend in the Minnesota Senate. As Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, he worked tirelessly to get the best deal possible for the arts this session. E-mail: sen.richard.cohen@senate.mn
Senator Dallas Sams (D-Staples): Chair of the Senate Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division which had jurisdiction over the arts, he managed to reduce Gov. Pawlenty’s 40% cut to the arts in his committee to 16%. Unfortunately, the subsequent conference committee didnât reduce the cut to16%, but Sen. Sams did everything he could to help the arts. (Click here to send an e-mail to Sen. Sams.)
Senator Dennis Frederickson (R-New Ulm): A member of Senator Samsâ funding division as well as the conference committee, Senator Frederickson was unwavering in his support of the arts. He is a true friend. E-mail: sen.dennis.frederickson@senate.mn
Representative Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont): Chair of the House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee, Rep. Gunther put an additional $1 million dollars in his budget for the arts, reducing Gov. Pawlenty’s 40% cut to 32%. While we wish that he would have reduced the cuts further, without this, the arts would have ended up this session with the 40% cut. He is also a true friend of the arts. E-mail: rep.bob.gunther@house.mn
Please thank these legislative friends for their help this session.

4. FURTHER NOTES ON ARTS AS A CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT

The only good news of this session is the amazing win of Kathleen Maloney and the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, who succeeding in making the arts a core academic subject in Minnesota’s schools. With friends in the Senate, Kathleen managed to get the arts designated as a core academic subject in the new standards. This means that schools will be required to provide all students with access to an arts education. This is good news for the future of arts across our state. Kathleen also created and led an effective coalition of arts education supporters who lobbied legislators with her, including leaders from the Perpich Center for Arts Education, the Minnesota Music Educators Association, Art Educators of Minnesota, Dance Educators Coalition, Communication and Theater Association. of Minnesota, Minnesota Elementary Principals Assocation, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and others. Congratulations to Kathleen and to and the members of the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education for their success!

5. SOME ARTS PROJECTS FUNDED BY STATE BONDING

After many years of attempts and several vetoes by former governor Jesse Ventura, the Children’s Theatre and the Guthrie Theater have finally been approved for partial funding for their projects by the state legislature. The CTC will receive $5 million, and the Guthrie Theater will receive $25 million. State bonding money is borrowed by the state for construction projects, and is completely different than the general fund money the state spends on operations (such as the MSAB and RACs). Also funded, in the education section of the bill, was construction of the Trollwood Performing Arts School in Moorhead at $5.5 million.

6. CONCEAL AND CARRY AND NON-PROFITS

The Minnesota Council of Non-Profits has put out information to help non-profits deal with the new “Conceal and Carry” legislation. Check out www.mncn.org/cnc.htm

5/20/03

1. ARTS CUT BY 32%
2. OTHER CULTURAL GROUPS SLASHED
3. ARTS WILL BE A CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT
4. TAKE MCA’S SURVEY

1. ARTS CUT BY 32%

THE CUTS
It was a hard fight. But it appears to be over. The conference committee with jurisdiction over the arts this weekend agreed to the Republican House position, a 32% cut in arts funding in Minnesota. This means overall state funding for the arts will decrease from $12,616,000 per year to $8,593,000 per year for the next two years.

You may recall that Governor Pawlenty proposed a 40% cut to the arts. The House committee, chaired by Rep. Bob Gunther, proposed reducing the cut to 32%. The Senate committee, chaired by Sen. Dallas Sams, proposed reducing the Governor’s cut to the arts to 16%. When the deal was struck on “no new taxes” the committee was left with no money to soften the cuts, leaving the Republican House’s 32% cut as the outcome.

THE IMPACT
While the overall arts appropriation was cut by 32%, it included a 60% cut to the state money that supports the Minnesota State Arts Board’s (MSAB) operations budget, which means they will have to lay off some of their staff. It is terrible that these good people join the ranks of those already laid off by arts organizations due to the bad economy, and who will probably still be laid off by arts organizations as a result of these cuts. The MSAB’s grants and the Regional Arts Councils were cut by slightly less than 30%.

State arts funding gets out to every Minnesota county via the grants and services of the eleven Regional Arts Councils and the Minnesota State Arts Board. (To see a list of grantees from the last couple of years: http://www.mtn.org/mca/List.html). A cut of this size means that access to the arts will decrease all across the state. This cut will affect every corner of Minnesota’s arts community. There will be smaller and fewer grants, funding fewer artists and arts organizations, funding fewer programs and services, decreasing access to the arts for Minnesotans all across the state. Small organizations will have less access to grants through the Regional Arts Councils. Individual artists funded by Regional Arts Council and State Arts Board grants will be affected too. Large and medium sized organizations will have less grant resources for all programs and services, which will reduce access to the arts for Minnesotans at all levels.

This comes on top of the already tough funding climate for the arts in Minnesota. Our February survey of the stateâs arts organizations found that 65% were predicting deficits this year, even after layoffs, wage freezes, and cuts in programs.

CONCLUSION
In my fourteen years of working on arts funding at the state legislature, I have never seen such a passionate, energized, committed and unified arts community fighting together for the arts. But for this effort, who knows how much worse it could have been. The fact that this was the outcome for us, (despite1,000 people coming to the Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day, 2,000+ people signing the arts petition, and hundreds of other people writing to and meeting independently with their legislators), tells you what a terrible legislative climate we had this year. Thank you to everyone who helped in this fight. Without your support, it could have been much worse. We are fortunate to be part of such a wonderful arts community.

-Sheila Smith, MCA Executive Director

2. OTHER CULTURAL GROUPS SLASHED

While this outcome for the arts is very bad, we are but one of the many victims of this bad legislative session. There have been terrible losses for other cultural groups as well. I am disgusted to have to report the following:

The Humanities Commission lost all of their state funding for the next two years. (State funding covered about a third of their budget).
The Minnesota Film Board was cut by 82%, leaving them with just $350,000/year.
The Minnesota Historical Society was cut by $4.3 million dollars a year, a loss of 23%.
The Science Museum of Minnesota got a 30% cut, reducing their annual funding to $750,000/year.
The Minnesota Zoo got a 10% cut, with an ability to charge new fees.
At this time, it looks like public broadcasting will get cuts too, but their bill is not yet finished.
In addition, the bonding bill is also not yet done, and it is still a question as to whether or not any arts projects will be included.

3. ARTS WILL BE A CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT

Some good news this session is the amazing win of Kathleen Maloney and the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, who succeeding in making the arts a core academic subject in Minnesotaâs schools. Legislators were determined to dump the Profile of Learning (which included the arts) but had not agreed on what would replace it until this weekend. With friends in the Senate, Kathleen managed to get the arts designated as a core academic subject in the new standards. This means that schools will be required to provide all students with access to an arts education. Congratulations to Kathleen and to MAAE!

5/16/03

1. LEGISLATURE CLOSING IN ON A DEAL
2. TAKE MCA’S SURVEY

1. LEGISLATURE CLOSING IN ON A DEAL

Governor Pawlenty proposed a 40% cut to the arts in Minnesota. The House Committee, chaired by Rep. Bob Gunther, proposed reducing the cut to 32%. The Senate Committee, chaired by Sen. Dallas Sams, proposed reducing the Governor’s cut to the arts to 16%.

A conference committee made up of a handful of Senators and Representatives began meeting this week to hammer out the differences between the House and Senate bills. They have been unable to take action because their leadership had not yet come to agreement on larger issues like taxes. The constitution requires the legislative session to end on Monday. Yesterday and today, however, there have been strong signs that a “global” agreement is nearly done. This means that session could come to a conclusion next week, with only a couple of extra “special session” days. This also means that cuts to the arts appropriation will be decided soon, maybe even as soon as this weekend.

MCA is in touch with the leadership of both the House and the Senate daily, as well as the Governor’s office, regarding the outcome for the arts. In addition, we have been communicating daily with the conferees on this committee, both in person and through contacts from concerned members of the arts community.

As soon as there is word, we will let you know the outcome for the arts.

2. TAKE MCA’S SURVEY

We want to serve you better! Take our easy to use communications survey with the handy dandy “Survey Monkey” http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?A=10571036E7685. It will take just a few minutes.

5/7/03

1. Two Thousand Minnesotans Sign Arts Petition
2. Important Legislators Named to Conference Committee
3. Arts Standards Issue Heats Up
4. Recent Press Coverage of the Fight for the Arts

1. Two Thousand Minnesotans Sign Arts Petition

Yesterday, a community letter signed by 2000 Minnesotans was delivered to all 201 Minnesota legislators, as well as to Governor Pawlenty, asking that the GovernorÕs 40% cut to the arts be reduced to 14%, the actual size of the state deficit. Click here to see a copy of the completed petition.

Legislators and staff were clearly impressed by the large number of Minnesotans who had signed on to the letter. Many mentioned that they had been receiving the arts postcards and had been getting calls from constituents asking that arts funding be preserved. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition, called, or sent letters or post-cards. Your efforts have been noticed!

Legislators also said that this has been a tough year all around, and that the conference committees, soon to be named, would be a critical factor in deciding how the arts will fare this session.

2. Important Legislators Named to Conference Committee

Members of the conference committee that will determine the fate of the arts have finally been appointed. You may recall that Gov. Pawlenty proposed a 40% cut to the arts, the House proposed reducing the cut to 32%, and the Senate proposed reducing the cut to 16%. Both the House and Senate have passed their respective bills and referred them to the conference committee. It is in the conference committee that representatives from the two sides sit down to negotiate a compromise.

We are now in the home stretch. ItÕs our last chance to talk to legislators and make a difference! Below is a list of our ten Conference Committee Members and their contact info.

IF YOU LIVE IN ANY OF THESE DISTRICTS, now is the time to call your legislator. Congratulate them for being named to this important conference committee, and ask them to “Please reduce the cuts to the arts.” If they have been supportive in the past, also thank them for that support.

HOUSE APPOINTEES

Rep. David Dill, 651-296-2190. District 6A, (D) (Arrowhead Regional Arts Council area, including Grand Marias, Grand Portage, Lutsen, Beaver Bay, Silver Bay, Two Harbors, Babbitt, Cook, Duluth Township, Ely, Orr, Tower).

Rep. Tom Hackbarth, 651-296-2439. District 48A (R) (Metropolitan Regional Arts Council area, including Bethel and East Bethel, Oak Grove, Elk River).

Rep. Dennis Ozment, 651-296-4306. District 37B (R) (Metropolitan Regional Arts Council area, Apple Valley and Rosemount).

Rep. Elaine Harder, 651-296-5373. District 22B (R) (Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council area, including Worthington., Jeffers, Mountain Lake, Storden, Westbrook, Windom, Alpha, Heron Lake, Jackson, Lakefield, Okabena, Wilder, Bigelow).

Rep. Bob Gunther, 651-296-3240. District 24A (R) (Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council area, including Blue Earth, Elmore, Winnebago, Ceylon, Dunnell, Fairmont, Ormsby, Sherburn, Truman, Ormsby, St. James).
SENATE APPOINTEES

Sen. Dallas Sams, 651-297-8063. District 11 (D), (In both the Lakes Region Arts Council and Five Wings Arts Council areas, including Alexandria, Staples, Kensington, Ashby, Herman, Wendell, Chokio, Hancock, Morris, Grey Eagle, Osakis).

Sen. John Marty, 651-296-5645. District 54 (D), (Metropolitan Regional Arts Council area, including St. An-thony, Lauderdale, Roseville, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights).

Sen. Linda Scheid, 651-296-8869. District 46, (D), (Metropolitan Regional Arts Council area, including Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center).

Sen. Steve Dille, 651-296-4131. District 18, (R), (Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council area, including Litchifield, Dassel, Hutchinson, Eden Valley, Watkins, Annandale, Howard Lake, Cokato, Winsted, Lester Prairie, Gelncoe, Stewart, Cedar Mills, Cosmos, Grove City)

Sen. Dennis Frederickson, 651-296-8138. District 21 (R), (Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council and Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council areas, including Marshall, Sleepy Eye, Redwood Falls, New Ulm, Madelia, Comfrey, Sandborn, Walnut Grove, Tracy, Florence, Taunton, Cottonwood).
IF YOU DONÕT LIVE IN ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS, and still have not yet contacted your own legislator, itÕs not too late! Please make your voice heard by calling or writing your legislators and the governor to ask them to support the arts. Click here for phone numbers and addresses of your legislators. It will only take a few minutes. (If you don’t know what district you live in, please call us at 651-251-0868.)

3. Arts Standards Issue Heats Up

It is politically necessary for many lawmakers to vote for repeal of the Profile of Learning. Some even ran for office on that platform. The issue for the arts education community is what replaces it.

The Senate proposal, which is now part of the omnibus E-12 education policy bill SF1528 repeals the Profile of Learning and provides for the arts in replacement standards. HF2, which is now part of the House omnibus education policy and appropriation bill HF1404, does not. SF1528 will put in place standards that have been worked on by best practice arts educators over an extended time. HF1404 does not.

The competing proposals are now heading towards a conference committee too. The Senate can be expected to try to uphold their proposal including the arts. The Republican House conferees all voted for omnibus HF1404. The DFL House conferee, a teacher from Dilworth on the NW edge of the state near Moorhead, did not.

To get the latest on arts education issues, sign up for the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in EducationÕs email list by sending an email to: kathleen@allarts4allkids.org now!

4. Recent Press Coverage on the Fight for the Arts

A good story on our fight to save the arts appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press yesterday: http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/columnists/5793577.htm

Also, an interesting article on economic impact of the arts in Minnesota appeared in the Minnesota Real Estate Journal:
http://www.rejournals.com/Story.cfm?Market=MN&StoryID=11514

4/25/03

Governor Pawlenty proposed a 40% cut to the arts in Minnesota. The House Committee, chaired by Rep. Bob Gunther, last week proposed reducing the cut to 32%. Yesterday in the Senate, Sen. Dallas Sams’ committee proposed reducing the Governor’s cut to the arts to 16%. This will put us in a much better position of negotiation when we get to Conference Committee in May.

This success is due to many things: the strong support and work of Senator Dallas Sams and Senator Richard Cohen, the massive ongoing grassroots pressure from friends of the arts across the state, including phone calls, post cards, coffee parties, and letter writing, the work of our great board members and our lobbyist Larry Redmond. Thanks to all!

If you have not yet contacted your own legislator, it’s not too late! Please make your voice heard by calling or writing your legislators and the governor to ask them to support the arts. You can get phone numbers and addresses of your legislators here.

Next steps:
Sen. Sams’ bill goes to the full Finance Committee (chaired by Sen. Cohen) today, and Rep. Gunther’s bill, which was supposed to be heard in the Ways & Means committee yesterday but wasn’t, will be heard soon. Then both bills will hit their respective floors, and then go on to conference committee, where they will negotiate a compromise between the Senate and House positions. We will probably be in Conference Committee around May 5, when we are planning to deliver our petition to the legislature. So far we have 965 people signed up on the petition! I predict weâll get 1000+! (See below).

Postcards
We still have postcards to give away, if anyone can think of a good group to give them to! It’s not too late until session is ended. The pre-printed cards are a very easy way to get the arts community’s message to your legislators. Call 651-251-868 to get more.

April 23, 2003

Please forward this email to the arts people you know: This is the easiest, fastest, and best way for you to show your support for the arts.

PLEASE SIGN MCA’S PETITION BY APRIL 30, 2003, which we will deliver to each and every state legislator shortly.

Governor Pawlenty has proposed a 40% cut in arts funding. The first week of May, 2003, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is going to deliver a copy of one huge community letter in person to all Minnesota legislators, asking that arts funding be restored. It will be signed by friends of the arts from all across the state. The names will be printed on the letter.

If you want to sign the petition, please e-mail she-mca@mtn.org with your name and hometown (where you vote). If you’d like to collect names for the petition yourself, print out the petition at www.mtn.org/mca/Letter03.html and then fax (651-917-3561) or email the names to us by April 30, 2003 so we have time to add them before we go to the Capitol. (Please do not send the letter directly to legislators. We want to deliver all of the names at once!)

Here’s what the community letter will say:

COMMUNITY LETTER TO THE LEGISLATURE

5/1/03

Dear Legislator:

The arts are important to Minnesota’s economy, quality of life, and future. One of the reasons Minnesota has a national reputation as a great place to live (despite our cold winters) is our world class arts and culture community. The arts draw tourists, prime the economic pump, and keep our cities and towns vibrant with life and activity state-wide.

We understand the seriousness of the state’s deficit and the need for cuts. The arts community is willing to do our fair share. However, the proposal to cut the arts is out of proportion to the state’s actual deficit. Because the arts represent less than 1/10 of 1% of the state’s budget (.00089), a cut of this size would have very little effect on the overall state deficit, but will cause devastation in the arts community. Cuts to the arts should be no more than 14%.

The arts are under threat. Attendance declined after 9/11. Corporate and foundation gifts are fewer and smaller because of the bad economy. Individual giving is threatened. A recent survey by MCA showed that 65% of reporting arts organizations will suffer deficits this year and the next, even after cutting services and programs, layoffs and wage freezes. And now Gov. Pawlenty has proposed a 40% cut in state funding.
State funding has contributed stability to the arts. A cut this large will cause further loss of arts programming across the state, in every legislative district, including yours. Between the grants of the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils, state arts funding reaches every Minnesota county. State arts funding leverages private giving. A 40% cut in state funds, at a time of economic peril for Minnesota’s arts community, will be devastating. Arts programs serving your constituents may not survive.
69% of the public believes government support for the arts is important, according to a new study in the seven county metro area by the Performing Arts Research Coalition, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts. A 1998 survey by the Minnesota Center for Survey Research also found that 92% of Minnesotans believe that the arts are “very important” or “somewhat important” to their quality of life. Your constituents care about the arts.

Sincerely, Name Name etc.

POSTCARD CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Waves of postcards are beginning to arrive in legislative offices from our postcard campaign. There has never been a more important time to contact your legislator. Have you done it yet?

“Ten letters can influence a legislator.”- Rep. Alice Hausman

“If you don’t mobilize, you will lose.” Rep. Matt Entenza

If you haven’t contacted your legislators yet, use the simple postcards MCA sent you in the last two weeks. If you haven’t received your postcards by Friday, give us a call at 651-251-0868 and we’ll send you a set. We have more in the office if you want to distribute them among your arts friends. They must be mailed into your legislators by May 1!

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” -Lily Tomlin

4/16/03

1. HOUSE COMMITTEE RESTORES A SMALL PART OF ARTS FUNDING
2. JOIN THE ARTS PETITION
3. VOLUNTEER TO SAVE THE ARTS

1. HOUSE COMMITTEE RESTORES A SMALL PART OF ARTS FUNDING

Today the Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee in the Minnesota House, chaired by Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) voted to restore $2 million dollars of the cuts to the arts. This would reduce Gov. Pawlentyâs suggested 40% cut for the next two years to about a 32% cut. Thank you to Chairman Gunther and his committee for their efforts. While much work still needs to be done, it’s important to acknowledge the work of our good friend Rep. Gunther in the House Republican caucus.

While we welcome the restoration of the funds in this committee, we are disappointed that they didn’t go farther. You may recall that we are asking that Gov. Pawlenty’s proposed 40% cut to the arts be reduced to 14%, the actual size of the state deficit.

The budget still must go through several phases. This was the very first step. The next step will be Sen. Samâs committee in the Senate, where we hope we will do better.

Our ability to get some money back to the arts in this committee is a direct result of the calls, letters, emails and postcards that have been pouring into the legislative offices from arts advocates. THANK YOU! If you have not yet contacted your own legislator, see below for a simple how-to.

2. JOIN THE ARTS PETITION

The first week of May, 2003 we are going to deliver a copy of one huge community letter in person to all Minnesota legislators, asking that arts funding be restored. It will be signed by friends of the arts from across the state. The names will be printed on the letter.

To add your name to the letter please e-mail us at she-mca@mtn.org with your name and hometown. If you’d like to collect names for the petition yourself, print out the petition at www.mtn.org/mca/Letter03.html and then fax (651-917-3561) or email the names to us by April 30, 2003 so we have time to add them before we go to the Capitol. (Please do not send the letter directly to legislators. We want to deliver all of the names at once!)

Here’s what the community letter will say:

COMMUNITY LETTER TO THE LEGISLATURE
5/1/03
Dear Legislator:

The arts are important to Minnesota’s economy, quality of life, and future. One of the reasons Minnesota has a national reputation as a great place to live (despite our cold winters) is our world class arts and culture community. The arts draw tourists, prime the economic pump, and keep our cities and towns vibrant with life and activity state-wide.

We understand the seriousness of the state’s deficit and the need for cuts. The arts community is willing to do our fair share. However, the proposal to cut the arts is out of proportion to the state’s actual deficit. Because the arts represent less than 1/10 of 1% of the state’s budget (.00089), a cut of this size would have very little effect on the overall state deficit, but will cause devastation in the arts community. Cuts to the arts should be no more than 14%.

The arts are under threat. Attendance declined after 9/11. Corporate and foundation gifts are fewer and smaller because of the bad economy. Individual giving is threatened. A recent survey by MCA showed that 65% of re-porting arts organizations will suffer deficits this year and the next, even after cutting services and programs, layoffs and wage freezes. And now Gov. Pawlenty has proposed a 40% cut in state funding.
State funding has contributed stability to the arts. A cut this large will cause further loss of arts programming across the state, in every legislative district, including yours. Between the grants of the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils, state arts funding reaches every Minnesota County. State arts funding leverages private giving. A 40% cut in state funds, at a time of economic peril for Minnesota’s arts community, will be devastating. Arts programs serving your constituents may not survive.
69% of the public believes government support for the arts is important, according to a new study in the seven county metro area by the Performing Arts Research Coalition, funded by the Pew Charitable Trust. A 1998 survey by the Minnesota Center for Survey Research also found that 92% of Minnesotans believe that the arts are “very important” or “somewhat important” to their quality of life. Your constituents care about the arts.
Sincerely, Name Name etc.

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” -Lily Tomlin

3. VOLUNTEER TO SAVE THE ARTS

Volunteers Needed! MCA needs your help contacting arts advocates to urge them to call their legislators about cuts to arts funding. Because we have lost a bunch of volunteers to the recent good weather, we are falling behind on calling.

Can you volunteer on one of these dates? Please help.

Thurs. Apr. 17, 5:30-8:00 PM

Mon. April 21, 5:30 -8:00 PM
Tue. April 22, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Wed. April 23, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Thu. April 24, 5:30 - 8:00 PM

Location: MCA Office, 2233 University Ave W. #355, St. Paul (three blocks east of the intersection of University and Raymond). Please RSVP to Geri at mca@mtn.org or 651-251-0868. We’ll provide you with all the info you need, snacks, beverages, and UNDYING APPRECIATION.

Advocates in Greater Minnesota area codes (218) and (507): We may be able to fax you calling to do from home. Let us know if you are available and weâll see if there is calling to be done in your area code.

CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR TO OPPOSE ARTS CUTS

“Ten letters can influence a legislator.” Rep. Alice Hausman
“If you don’t mobilize, you will lose.” Rep. Matt Entenza

Please make your voice heard by calling or writing your legislators and the governor to ask them to support the arts. You can get phone numbers and addresses of your legislators on here: www.mtn.org/mca/leg2.html.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR FEDERAL CONGRESSPERSON ABOUT THE ARTS

National Arts Advocacy Day was held last week in Washington, D.C. by Americans for the Arts. A small group from Minnesota visited our congressional delegation to talk about federal support for the arts and tax policy affecting philanthropy and non-profits. We had particularily good meetings in person with Rep. Betty McCollum (St. Paul), Rep. Jim Ramstad (Western Suburbs) and Sen. Mark Dayton.

One of the most important federal arts issues to Minnesota is an attempt to increase federal funding for the arts from approximately $115 million per year to $171 million. Minnesota benefits from NEA funding in two ways. The first way is through direct grants to various cultural endeavors around the state. (You can see a list of these direct federal grants to Minnesota for 2003 at: http://www.arts.gov/learn/03grants/states1/MN.html). The second way NEA funds get to Minnesota’s citizens is through a grant to the Minnesota State Arts Board which is then used to support granting all over the state.

To contact your member of Congress with a quick email asking them to support federal arts funding, just click on http://capwiz.com/artsusa/home/. You can write your own message, or click on the pre-written “Support Cultural Agencies through Arts Advocacy Day!” message. The Americans for the Arts website also has position papers on various federal issues affecting non-profit arts.

4/10/03

1. MN SENATE HOLDS HEARING ON THE ARTS
2. VOLUNTEER TO SAVE THE ARTS

1. MN SENATE HOLDS HEARING ON THE ARTS

Representatives of the Minnesota arts community testified Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division, chaired by Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-11-Staples). Testifiers included Robert Booker, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Arts Board, Mark Turner, the Director of the Five Wings Arts Council in Staples, and Jeff Prauer, the Executive Director of COMPAS (Community Programs in the Arts) in St. Paul. All testified on how the arts are important to Minnesota’s quality of life, economy, tourism and education.

The testimony was well received. Vice Chair Scott Dibble (DFL-60) of Minneapolis noted that the state’s small investment in the arts leverages a tremendous impact on our quality of life, and sets us apart from other states in the Upper Midwest. Sen. Julie Rosen (R-24) of Fairmont proudly highlighted the Fairmont Opera House as a “wonderful and important” part of her community. Sen. Pat Pariseau (R-36) of Farmington sang the praises of the Textile Center of Minnesota, wishing that a similar organization existed in her community.

This was a preliminary hearing. The committee did not take any votes on the arts.

NEXT STEP: In the next week, the House and Senate committees will start passing budget bills. We are hoping that both sides will reduce the Governor’s proposed 40% cut to the arts to only 14%, the actual size of the state’s deficit. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Call or write your legislator! Send in your postcards! Volunteer! Details on all below.

2. VOLUNTEER TO SAVE THE ARTS TIME IS SHORT! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

PHONEBANK CAMPAIGN: MCA needs your help contacting arts advocates to urge them to call their legislators about cuts to arts funding. Can you volunteer on one of these dates?

Thur. April 10, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Sat. April 12, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Mon. April 21, 5:30 -8:00 pm
Tue. April 22, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Wed. April 23, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Thu. April 24, 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Location: MCA Office, 2233 University Ave W. #355, St. Paul (three blocks east of the intersection of University and Raymond).
Please RSVP to Geri at mca@mtn.org or 651-251-0868. We’ll provide you with all the info you need, snacks, beverages, and UNDYING APPRECIATION!

4/1/03

1. MCA TO CONDUCT MASSIVE POSTCARD CAMPAIGN
2. VOLUNTEER TO SAVE THE ARTS
3. BACKGROUND ON THE CURRENT CRISIS
4. HOW TO CONTACT YOUR U.S. CONGRESSPERSON ABOUT THE ARTS

1. MCA TO CONDUCT MASSIVE POSTCARD CAMPAIGN

“Ten letters can influence a legislator.” Rep. Alice Hausman

“If you don’t mobilize, you will lose.” Rep. Matt Entenza

There has never been a more important time to contact your state legislators. Have you done it yet? If you haven’t, we’re going to make it very easy for you:

We’ve printed 35,000 postcard sets asking state legislators to support the arts. Over 25,000 are already arriving in mailboxes across the state. We have 10,000 more in our office just waiting for you to send to your friends, relatives, and audience members. Can you help us spread the word? Just contact Geri Katz at 651-251-0868 or mca@mtn.org to find out how to get postcards to send out. (If you are in the metro, it would be great if you could drop by and pick them up).

See “BACKGROUND” below for details about the current situation for the arts at the Legislature, and how to find out who your legislators are.

2. VOLUNTEER TO SAVE THE ARTS

Volunteers Needed! MCA needs your help contacting arts advocates to urge them to call their legislators about cuts to arts funding. Can you volunteer on one of these dates? We have a short window of time to reach important legislators.

Mon. April 7, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Tue. April 8, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Wed. April 9, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Thur. April 10, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Sat. April 12, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Mon. April 21, 5:30 -8:00 pm
Tue. April 22, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Wed. April 23, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Thu. April 24, 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Location: MCA Office, 2233 University Ave W. #355, St. Paul (three blocks east of the intersection of University and Raymond).

Please RSVP to Geri at mca@mtn.org or 651-251-0868.

We’ll provide you with all the info you need, snacks, beverages, and UNDYING APPRECIATION!

ALSO: Advocates in Greater Minnesota: We may be able to fax you calling to do from home. Let us know if you are available and we’ll see if there is calling to be done in your area code.

What else can you do? Get sets of postcards from MCA and send them to your friends, relatives, staff, board, or audience. Local advocacy events are being scheduled in certain districts. Check our events page to see if there is anything happening near you.

3. BACKGROUND ON THE CURRENT CRISIS

We all know that the state is dealing with a deficit that represents 14% of the state budget. But did you know that the Governor has proposed cutting the arts by 40%? That’s almost three times larger than the actual budget deficit, and it is unfair. A cut this big will decrease the availability of the arts in every Minnesota county. Your favorite arts programs may not survive.

The Legislature will decide in the next few months if it will go along with the Governor’s recommendation or do something else. We are now waiting for the committees in the House and Senate to make their first recommendations.

We can reduce the size of the cut by talking to our legislators about the importance of the arts to our communities. Over the past several weeks, MCA friends and members by the hundreds have been calling their legislators to ask them to protect arts funding. We still need make our voices heard!

**Please call or write your legislators and the governor to ask them to support the arts. You can get phone numbers and addresses of your state legislators here.**

Minnesota supports the arts through grant programs at the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils, whose grants and services reach EVERY Minnesota county. Nearly all of the arts programs and services you may have participated in across the state are supported in some way by these funds. (Click here to see state grantee lists).

In response to a recent MCA survey, 65% of Minnesota arts organizations reported they expected deficits both this year and next, even after cutting services, programs and staff and imposing wage freezes. Corporate and foundation dollars for the arts are also declining because of the bad stock market. A 40% cut in state funds, at this time of economic peril for Minnesota’s arts community, would be devastating.

4. HOW TO CONTACT YOUR FEDERAL CONGRESSPERSON ABOUT THE ARTS

National Arts Advocacy Day was held last week in Washington, D.C. by Americans for the Arts. A small group from Minnesota visited our congressional delegation to talk about federal support for the arts and tax policy affecting philanthropy and non-profits. We had particularily good meetings in person with Rep. Betty McCollum (St. Paul), Rep. Jim Ramstad (Western Suburbs) and Sen. Mark Dayton.

One of the most important federal arts issues to Minnesota is an attempt to increase federal funding for the arts from approximately $115 million per year to $171 million. Minnesota benefits from NEA funding in two ways. The first way is through direct grants to various cultural endeavors around the state. (You can see a list of these direct federal grants to Minnesota for 2003 at: http://www.arts.gov/learn/03grants/states1/MN.html). The second way NEA funds get to Minnesota’s citizens is through a grant to the Minnesota State Arts Board which is then used to support granting all over the state.

To contact your member of Congress with a quick email asking them to support federal arts funding, just click on http://capwiz.com/artsusa/home/. You can write your own message, or click on the pre-written “Support Cultural Agencies through Arts Advocacy Day!” message. The Americans for the Arts website also has position papers on various federal issues affecting non-profit arts.