12/15/05

Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy!

MCA Joins the Modern Age:

We are very happy to announce that you can now join MCA on-line securely here.

As a supporter of Minnesota’s arts community, you know that it is important for us to speak with a strong and focused voice. By renewing your membership with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, you are helping our community to build strong messages of public support for the arts and deliver those messages to policy makers, legislators and the citizens of Minnesota.

It’s the perfect holiday activity!

As a member of MCA, you can be a part of mobilizing and strengthening the statewide arts community. MCA’s Annual Arts Advocacy Day is coming up on March 9th, 2006. This free event brings arts advocates from all over the state to the state capitol to meet with their legislators in support of the arts. Arts Advocacy Day 2006 will feature the release of the first ever Regional and Statewide Economic Impact Study of the Arts and Culture. This groundbreaking new study will provide innovative tools for arts advocates to make the case for the arts as an economic engine when they meet with their legislators, community groups and neighbors.

The upcoming year is an important one for the arts. Last year we were able to hold our own and maintain stable state arts funding in a difficult deficit year. As we make plans for the next year, it is with the knowledge that all elected offices, including the Governor and all members of the House and Senate, will be up for re-election in November 2006. As a renewing member you will be a part of this campaign and will have access to the strongest arts advocacy network in America. Our network will educate and empower voters who value the arts and will encourage them to interact with the candidates so that our message is heard and acted upon.

Support from individual arts advocates like you plays an essential role in the arts community’s continuing success. You can be a part of MCA’s mission to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts.Please renew your membership today! Together we will build a bright future for the arts in Minnesota.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

11/18/05

1. Join us for the “Arts Advocacy 101″ Class in Willmar on December 6

2. Volunteers Needed at MCA! Nov. 22 & Nov. 23

3. New Report on the Arts in Rural Minnesota; “Bright Stars.”

1. Join us for the “Arts Advocacy 101″ Class in Willmar on December 6

Sheila Smith, Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, will be offering the “Arts Advocacy 101” seminar at Buffalo Fish Fine Art, 776 Business Hwy 71 North, Suite One, in Willmar on Dec. 6. The “Arts Advocacy 101″ seminar will give you new tools to advocate for the arts both locally and statewide. If you’ve never advocated for anything in your life but you’d like to get more involved, or if you have some experience and would like to learn new ways to make the case for the arts, this class is for you. It’s a fun, informal way to learn how to advocate for the arts.

Who should go? People who believe in and advocate for the arts

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:
• You’ll make new friends who care about the arts as much as you do.

Why do we want you there? The understanding you have of your community - its successes and challenges - is information that others will want to learn. Your experiences are important.

TO SIGN UP: RSVP to: MCA Board member Allison Geiger, Buffalo Fish Fine Art info@buffalofishfineart.com 320-222-9876.

The class will be held at: Buffalo Fish Fine Art, 776 Business Hwy 71 North, Suite One, Willmar MN 56201 (across from Robbin’s Island on service road just north of Senior Center)

From Minneapolis/394 W: Take 394W to Hwy 12. Head west on Hwy 12 all the way to Willmar. Right on Lakeland Drive (first stoplight coming in to town). Cross railroad tracks, and take immediate LEFT on High Avenue (access road that leads to back of business park). Go a short distance on High, turn Right at North Creek Business Park/R&D Safety sign. Buffalo Fish Fine Art is listed on very bottom of this sign, which has rock columns. We are in second building on right as you drive in to North Creek Bus. Park. Park in front or back.

From 94W: Take 94W to Hwy23 towards Willmar. Once you near Willmar, make sure to stay on the 23/BUSINESS HWY 71. Do not take 71 North, or the bypass! Continue on Business 71 towards town. You’ll see lakes on your right, and a service road on the left. Get on the service road when you can. Look for a big tall metal sign with a red roof. Buffalo Fish is in big silver letters. Turn there into North Creek Business Park. We are in the second building on your left. Park in front or back.

2. Volunteers Needed at MCA! Nov. 22 & Nov. 23

Upcoming MCA Volunteer Opportunity!

Come demonstrate your support for the arts and help MCA assemble a large mailing to be sent before the Thanksgiving holiday. Volunteers are welcome to visit us and lend a hand at the MCA office on Tuesday, November 22nd from 9:00 am to 8:00 PM, and Wednesday, November 23rd, from 9:00 am-5:00 PM. If you would like to give of your time to help MCA with this important project, please RSVP to this e-mail or contact Kate Hannaher at MCA: 651-251-0868.

3. New Report on the Arts in Rural Minnesota; “Bright Stars.”

Bright Stars Charting the Impact of the Arts in Rural Minnesota

Greater Minnesota’s communities are coping with economic challenges and a declining population by reinventing themselves. A new report about the arts in rural Minnesota finds that, for many towns, the tools of the reinvention are the arts and artists. The report confirms that the arts act as invaluable communication tools, economic drivers, and vital cultural links with the rest of Minnesota, the nation, and the world.

Bright Stars: Charting the Impact of the Arts in Rural Minnesota is published by The McKnight Foundation and was developed in partnership with Creation In Common in St. Paul. The stories featured in Bright Stars are examples of how the arts are playing a critical role in maintaining the traditional vitality of rural Minnesota.

To receive a copy of Bright Stars: Charting the Impact of the Arts in Rural Minnesota, please call The McKnight Foundation at 612-333-4220, or download the book at www.mcknight.org/brightstars. Also, there is a Bright Stars weblog at www.creationincommon.typepad.com/bright_stars.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

10/31/05

1. Advocacy 101 Classes to be Offered by MCA
2. Arts Advocacy Day: Save the Date!
3. Booker Leaving Minnesota State Arts Board
4. Small Increase for Arts in Education Programs Passes U.S. Senate
5. Data Collection for Minnesota Arts and Culture Economic Impact Study Nearly Complete

1. Advocacy 101 Classes to be Offered by MCA

Montgomery: November 11, 1:30 p.m., at the Arts & Heritage Center.
Willmar: December 6, 2005, in the evening, location TBA.

Sheila Smith, Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, will be offering “Arts Advocacy 101” seminars in the next month. The “Arts Advocacy 101″ seminar will give you new tools to advocate for the arts both locally and statewide. If you’ve never advocated for anything in your life but you’d like to get more involved, or if you have some experience and would like to learn new ways to make the case for the arts, this class is for you. It’s a fun, informal way to learn how to advocate for the arts.

Who should go?

• Arts leaders and artists from your community
• Arts organization staff and board members
• Teachers, school board members, arts active parents/CAPP members
• People who believe in and advocate for the arts

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:
• You’ll make new friends who care about the arts as much as you do.
• 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.

Why do we want you there?

• The understanding you have of your community - its successes and challenges - is information that others will want to learn. Your experiences are important.
• Your renewed commitment to the arts community is vital. Your continued arts leadership as well as your ability to pass on training to new leaders is needed.

TO SIGN UP:
For the event on November 11, 1:30 p.m., at the Arts & Heritage Center in Montgomery: The address is 206 First PST N. (It’s a big building with an orange roof at the top of the hill. The building also houses the Next Chapter Book Store and Hilltop Hall- a performance venue). Montgomery is just south of the Twin Cities. Hosted by MCA Board Member Kathy Peterson. RSVP to: MCA at mca@mtn.org, or 651-251-0868.

For the event on December 6, 2005: Willmar, location TBA. Willmar is in Southwest Minnesota. Hosted by MCA Board Member Allison Geiger. RSVP to: Allison Geiger, Gallery Director, Buffalo Fish Fine Art info@buffalofishfineart.com 320-222-9876.

2. Arts Advocacy Day: Save the Date!

Arts Advocacy Days in 2006 will be bigger than ever. Don’t miss out! Put them on your calendar now:

Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day will be March 9, 2006. Details: www.mtn.org/mca

National Arts Advocacy Days will be March 13-14. 2006. Details: www.artsusa.org/events/2006/aad/001.asp

3. Booker Leaving Minnesota State Arts Board

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 28, 2005

Bob Booker, executive director of the Minnesota State Arts Board, announced Friday that he will leave next month to become executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Booker, 50, has been on the staff of the board since 1985 and has served as executive director since 1997. His last day will be Nov. 28. The board is primarily a granting agency, funding individual artists and cultural organizations. His tenure included periods of expansion and contraction in the agency. In 1998, Gov. Arne Carlson raised state funding to $13 million, an annual figure that continued through 2002. But in 2003, budget deficits took their toll, and allocations dropped. Granting authority in 2004 was slashed by 30 percent and administrative outlays were cut by 61 percent. Now the agency receives about $8.6 million from the state, said spokeswoman Sue Gens. The Arizona commission has a budget of about $4.5 million. -GRAYDON ROYCE

4. Small Increase for Arts in Education Programs Passes U.S. Senate

We are pleased to announce the passage of $35.7 million for the Department of Education’s Arts in Education programs by the US Senate on Thursday, October 27. This funding represents a $100,000 increase over last year’s funding level and was part of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. Arts in Education programs provide funding to teacher training programs, model arts education programs at schools across the country, John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts educational programming, and to VSA arts that provide programs for people with and without disabilities. The US Senate Appropriations Committee under the leadership of Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Ranking Member Robert Byrd (D-WV) previously approved this funding level on July 14, 2005. Arts in Education programs were eliminated by the US House of Representatives as recommended by President George W. Bush in his FY 2006 Budget. This bill now moves to conference committee between the US Senate and House of Representatives.

5. Data Collection for Minnesota Arts and Culture Economic Impact Study Nearly Complete

For the past many months, members of MCA and the Regional Arts Councils have been hard at work collecting data from arts audiences and organizations to complete the first ever statewide Arts and Culture Economic Impact Study. When complete, the Study will produce 12 reports on the economic impact of the arts and culture in Minnesota; a statewide study and eleven regional studies. We are looking forward to completing the data collection phase because it’s been alot of work! If your organization still has not completed the survey, it’s not too late. Just e-mail MCA at mca@mtn.org or call us at 651-251-0868 to get the survey faxed to you. So far several hundred organizations have participated in the survey.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

10/13/05

1. You are invited to MCA’s Annual Meeting featuring Cori Wegener,
“The Looting of the Iraq National Museum: A Curator’s Perspective.

2. Help Artists Affected by Hurricane Katrina

You are cordially invited toMCA’s Annual Meeting
With featured speaker Cori Wegener:

“The Looting of the Iraq National Museum: A Curator’s Perspective”

Ms. Wegener is an assistant curator in Architecture, Design, Decorative Arts, Craft, & Sculpture at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts & a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserve. Her last military assignment was in Baghdad, Iraq as the military’s Arts, Monuments & Archives Officer and liaison to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture. She assisted staff at the Iraq National Museum after the looting that took place during the U.S. invasion. She will provide a slide lecture discussing the looting & provide an update on the status of the Iraq National Museum & endangered archeological sites throughout Iraq.

6:00-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 18th, 2005

In the Illusion Theater auditorium
on the 8th Floor of the Hennepin Center for the Arts 528 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis
Presentation followed by wine and socializing.
We will also welcome new board members and thank retiring members for their tireless service to MCA.

Event is free for MCA members, $5 for the general public.

Please R.S.V.P. to MCA by October 13th.

2. Help Artists Affected by Hurricane Katrina

Springboard’s Emergency Relief Fund has no geographic restrictions and is currently depleted due to the overwhelming number of artists from the gulf coast area who have applied. They are trying to raise additional money as quickly as possible so they can help all of those who have applied. Here is more info about the fund:

Help Artists Effected by Hurricane Katrina Help support gulf coast artists who have been effected by Hurricane Katrina through Springboard’s Emergency Relief Fund! To make a donation go to http://charitybox.com/Springboard/ (put Emergency Relief Fund in the special instructions box.) To learn more about the Emergency Relief Fund, go to:http://springboardforthearts.org/Services/ERF.asp

The Artists’ Emergency Relief Fund was established to meet the emergency needs of artists who find themselves in need of immediate monies to cover an expense due to loss from fire, theft, a health emergency, or other catastrophic, career-threatening event. The Fund is meant to be used to expedite recovery from a specific economic crisis so that the applying artist may continue their work. Artists may access up to $500 to meet unexpected “emergency” expenses. The Relief Fund is designed to turn money around quickly. Artists can expect to know if they will be funded within 48 hours of application. A check can be ready the same day the application is approved.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

09/12/05

1. State Fair Polls Show Support for the Arts

2. Economic Impact Study of the Arts - Act Now! Deadline Extended to September 16

3. Hurricane Katrina Prompts Response from Arts Community

1. State Fair Polls Show Support for the Arts

Every Year the House and Senate conduct polls at the Minnesota State Fair to take the public’s temperature on a variety of issues. This year, both polls had arts questions, and we are pleased to report that the arts came out ahead:

SENATE FAIR POLL:

Background: Two years ago MCA worked to include the arts in a bill that would constitutionally dedicate funds to the environment and other conservation issues. This bill looks like it will be coming back for consideration next year.

In the poll results, it was interesting to see that the public supports this sales tax dedication constitutional amendment most when it includes cultural resources, but much less when it’s just the other issues. Only 27% were opposed to the idea entirely. Go team!

Here’s the question and the results:

Question 10: Would you support a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of state sales tax revenue for the protection and improvement of fish, wildlife, water, and cultural resources?

Yes, for all of the purposes listed. 45.1% (2174)
Yes, for fish, wildlife, and water resource protection and improvement only. 14.2% (684)
Yes, for fish and wildlife resource protection and improvement only. 2.5% (122)
No, I would not support a constitutional amendment dedicating revenue for any of the purposes listed. 27.7% (1337)
Undecided/ No opinion 10.5% (503)”
For the other questions and results, go to http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/

HOUSE FAIR POLL:

In the House of Representative’s state fair poll, voters roundly rejected the idea of moving the arts out of the schools, an idea floated during last year’s legislative session which we are happy to report was loudly and soundly defeated in committee:

Should the responsibilities for the non-curricular athletic and fine arts activities of high school students be transferred from school districts to local governments in order to allow school districts to focus on delivering academic services?

Yes - 21.2%
No - 63.4%
Undecided/no opinion - 15.3%
More than 8,800 fairgoers took the House poll, conducted by the nonpartisan House Public Information Services Office. For more information: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/Fair/2005Results.pdf

2. Economic Impact Study of the Arts - Act Now! Deadline Extended to September 16

The deadline for completing the Economic Impact Study has been extended! Your arts organization and activities are important to Minnesota and we want you to be included. Our arts community is being studied by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), and the Forum of Regional Arts Councils (FRACM) in a project funded primarily by the McKnight Foundation. The project will produce eleven regional economic impact studies as well as a statewide study, and give us great tools to advocate for the arts statewide and locally.

Cities and states across the country seek to build “creative economies” that are driven by the strength of creative people such as artists, designers, and innovators of all kinds. “The arts and culture are one of the things that define Minnesota, like our lakes and the great outdoors, drawing people here from all over the country. Minnesota is poised to be one of the leading creative economies in the country behind only New York and California, because Minnesota has a unique civic culture of public support for and participation in the arts,” said Sheila Smith, MCA’s Executive Director. “This survey will help us to make the case for more support for the arts.”

Please complete the on-line survey THIS WEEK. Below are links to the survey for each Region:

Region 1:Northwest Regional Arts Council
Region 2:Region 2 Arts Council
Region 3:Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
Region 4:Lake Region Arts Council
Region 5:Five Wings Arts Council
Region 6/8:Southwest Minnesota Arts & Humanities Council
Region 7E:East Central Arts Council
Region 7W:Central Minnesota Arts Board
Region 9:Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council
Region 10:Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
Region 11:Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
Study Partners This statewide project is a collaboration of the Forum of Regional Arts Councils (RAC Forum) and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), principle partners, with major funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Additional partners include Twin Cities Performing Arts Research Coalition (PARC) project and Americans for the Arts (AFTA).

3. Hurricane Katrina Prompts Response from Arts Community

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina has prompted responses from many arts organizations across the country. To learn more about these efforts, to contribute or get involved, check Americans for the Arts website at: http://ww3.artsusa.org/get_involved/membership/katrina/default.asp

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

08/18/05

1. Economic Impact Study of the Arts - Act Now! Surveys Due Sept. 16th

2. MCA Board Openings: Nominations Due Sept. 1

3. MCA Internship Openings: Applications Due Sept. 5

4. President Approves NEA Funding Increase

1. Economic Impact Study of the Arts - Act Now! Surveys Due Sept. 16th

The deadline for completing the Economic Impact Study is drawing closer! Your arts organization and activities are important to Minnesota and we want you to be included. The arts and cultural resources of our state are being studied by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), and the Forum of Regional Arts Councils (FRACM). The project will produce eleven regional economic impact studies as well as a statewide study, and give us great tools to advocate for the arts statewide and locally.

Cities and states across the country seek to build “creative economies” that are driven by the strength of creative people such as artists, designers, and innovators of all kinds. “The arts and culture are one of the things that define Minnesota, like our lakes and the great outdoors, drawing people here from all over the country. Minnesota is poised to be one of the leading creative economies in the country behind only New York and California, because Minnesota has a unique civic culture of public support for and participation in the arts,” said Sheila Smith, MCA’s Executive Director.

“This survey will help us to make the case for more support for the arts.”

Please complete the on-line survey THIS WEEK. Below are links to the survey for each Region:

Region 1:Northwest Regional Arts Council
Region 2:Region 2 Arts Council
Region 3:Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
Region 4:Lake Region Arts Council
Region 5:Five Wings Arts Council
Region 6/8:Southwest Minnesota Arts & Humanities Council
Region 7E:East Central Arts Council
Region 7W:Central Minnesota Arts Board
Region 9:Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council
Region 10:Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
Region 11:Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
Study Partners This statewide project is a collaboration of the Forum of Regional Arts Councils (RAC Forum) and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), principle partners, with major funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Additional partners include Twin Cities Performing Arts Research Coalition (PARC) project and Americans for the Arts (AFTA).

2. MCA Board Openings: Nominations Due Sept. 1

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is soliciting nominations for its Board of Trustees. Terms begin October 2005 and will last for two years. Half of MCA’s 36 board members must come from the Twin Cities metro area, and half from Greater Minnesota. We have at least two metro openings and four openings in Greater Minnesota. Interested? Fill out the form below and return it by September 1, 2005 by email, fax, or by snail mail to the above address.

MCA seeks board members who:

Have a willingness to work, volunteer and come to our meetings.
Are people with political connections, political strategists, and people with an understanding of the political process, or are willing to learn
Have mix of party affiliation
Provide balance in terms of the genre, size or type of organizations represented (large, medium, small, arts education, individual artist, etc.)
Have willingness to communicate our work to their peers, and/or clout within their organizations
Provide other balances in terms of representing the state or the arts community (ie diversity in terms of age, race, etc).
(Please do not nominate someone other than yourself unless you have discussed it with them first).

MCA Board Nomination Form

NOMINEE NAME:

Home Address:

Work Address:

Home Phone:

Work Phone:

Organization (If appropriate):

Title (If appropriate):

Legislative District # (If unknown, MCA can identify it for you):

Experience with your local arts community:

Political Experience (desired, but not necessary):

Why are you interested in serving on the MCA Board of Trustees?

3. MCA Internship Openings: Applications Due Sept. 5

CAMPUS ORGANIZING INTERNSHIP AT MINNESOTA CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), an effective state arts advocacy organization that lobbies for the arts in Minnesota, seeks an intern to begin September, 2005. The position is part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week). The position is unpaid, but does fulfill requirements for service learning course credit.

MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year. Interns will have exposure to and opportunities to interact with some of the movers and shakers in the arts community, as well as a working knowledge of the legislative process, arts funding structures in Minnesota and the basic functions of running a nonprofit. Interns will play a valuable role in building the next generation of arts advocates. Perks include many opportunities to advance in the arts and/or political community.

Duties and projects included in the internship:

The primary responsibility is to coordinate MCA’s “Campus Arts Advocates Network” a statewide initiative to involve more young people in arts advocacy. Duties will include:

recruiting advocates from campuses throughout the state,
training campus organizers and helping them plan arts advocacy activities on their campuses,
maintaining weekly communication with campus network,
tracking campus activities and reporting back to staff and board.
Work with staff on current projects including:

grassroots organizing,
candidate meetings,
voter education,
board meeting preparation,
filing and data entry.
Interns may also have the opportunity to identify and take on projects of interest that relate to arts advocacy.

A qualified applicant would possess the following skills:

Enthusiasm for organizing students around arts advocacy,
Understanding of the political process,
Past political experience preferred,
Interest in working with the arts community,
Good communication skills, especially speaking with people on the phone,
A self-starting, positive, self-motivated personality and a sense of humor,
Good organizational skills and the ability to perform many tasks simultaneously,
Computer literacy; preferably experience with Macintosh, Microsoft Word & Excel and database systems,
Independent and creative work habits.
APPLY NOW. Please mail or email resume and cover letter by September 5, 2005 to: Kate Hannaher, mca@mtn.org Minnesota Citizens for the Art,s 2233 University Avenue West, Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114

4. President Approves NEA Funding Increase

Federal Arts Funding NEA to Receive an Increase of $4.4 Million for Next Year

On August 2, President Bush signed the FY 2006 Interior Appropriations bill, containing funding for the NEA and NEH. The bill provides an increase of $4.4 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. Thus, for FY 2006, the NEA will receive $125.7 million. NEA’s Challenge America program, which supports the arts in underserved areas, receives a cut, though not as much as the Administration had proposed. Similarly, the compromise has a larger increase for the American Masterpieces initiative than the Administration proposed. The bill provides an increase of $4.3 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, which is set to receive $142.4 million in FY 2006.

Additional funds will come to Minnesota through a block grant to the Minnesota State Arts Board, as well as through direct grants to organizations across the state.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

07/21/05

1. Call for Nominations for MCA’s Board

2. Perpich Center Ends Special Session with Small Increase

3. Karen Jensen, Former MCA Board Chair, Passes Away

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1. Call for Nominations for MCA’s Board

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is soliciting nominations for its Board of Trustees. Terms begin October 2005 and will last for two years. Half of MCA’s 36 board members must come from the Twin Cities metro area, and half from Greater Minnesota.Interested? Fill out the form below and return it by September 1, 2005 by email, fax, or by snail mail to the above address.

MCA seeks board members who:

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

Click here for the Board Nomination Form
2. Perpich Center Ends Special Session with Small Increase

When all was said and done with the Special Session, the Perpich Center was funded at the level of $6.6 million per year for the next two years. This is $200,000 higher per year than the funding level recommended by the Governor, but falls short of the hoped for $7 million per year that the Center requested. Before the large cuts of two years ago, the Perpich Center was funded at $7.5 million per year. Perpich Center staff were laid off for the duration of the state shutdown starting June 30. When the deal was struck to get the state going again, the Perpich Center re-opened. In the midst of this trial and tribulation, new Director Nathan Davis has joined the Center. We’d like to express our appreciation to retiring Director David Flannery, who was a great partner in advocacy during his tenure, and extend our welcome Mr. Davis.

3. Karen Jensen, Former MCA Board Chair, Passes Away

Karen Jensen was Board Chair of MCA from 1980-1981. During her hears on the staff of the Minneapolis Society of Fine Art (Minneapolis Institute of Arts) she was a leader in urging the arts community to be more involved in political affairs. Karen provided her many years of professional political experience to the benefit of arts organizations throughout all of Minnesota. We wish to express our condolences to her family and our thanks at her many contributions to the state. An article about her can be found in the Star Tribune at http://www.startribune.com/stories/466/5517758.html

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

07/14/05

1. Stand Up and Be Counted in Statewide Arts and Culture Economic Impact Study

2. Volunteers Needed

1. Stand Up and Be Counted in Statewide Arts and Culture Economic Impact Study

The arts and cultural resources of our state will be studied this summer through an economic impact study conducted by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), and the Forum of Regional Arts Councils (FRACM). The project, which will produce eleven regional economic impact studies as well as a statewide study, measures the economic impact of arts and culture organizations and audiences both locally and across Minnesota. The study began recently, and the results will be released to the public in January 2006.

Cities and states across the country seek to build “creative economies” that are driven by the strength of creative people such as artists, designers, and innovators of all kinds. ÒThe arts and culture are one of the things that define Minnesota, like our lakes and the great outdoors, drawing people here from all over the country. Minnesota is poised to be one of the leading creative economies in the country behind only New York and California, because Minnesota has a unique civic culture of public support for and participation in the arts,” said Sheila Smith, MCAÕs Executive Director.

The year-long study will be coordinated by MCA, while each of the stateÕs eleven Regional Arts Councils will manage audience surveys and the data release events in their own regions. Americans for the Arts, their national partner, will create the economic models for the study for each region and for the statewide study, and will provide secure web-based surveying tools.

“We hope that many of our arts and cultural groups participate in the survey,” said Mara Wittman of the Northwest Regional Arts Council in Warren. “The results will be a great way of showing the economic impact of the arts in northwestern Minnesota.”

The types of non-profit organizations that will be studied include community and statewide organizations in the arts, historical societies, humanities organizations, and public broadcasting.Arts areas to be studied include all genres; dance, literary arts, music, theater, visual arts and artist service organizations.

“It is anticipated that the data collected from around the state will help support the case for increased public and private sector arts and culture funding in our communities and will generate significant statewide and local visibility for these important community assets,” said Smith.

The study consists of two parts:

1. A web-based budget survey for arts and culture organizations. Organizations will soon receive an email or snail mail letter with instructions on how they can participate.

2. An audience survey distributed to attendees at arts and culture events or exhibits. These surveys measure event-related spending by arts audiences and are extremely important. For example, arts attendees often eat a meal before the show, pay for parking, and purchase souvenirs. This spending has a measurable impact on the local economyÑan impact that differentiates the arts from many other local industries. If you are asked to complete an audience survey, please take part.

Participation is Key Terri Widman, Director of the Region 2 Arts Council in Bemidji said,”If we get a significant number of organizations to fill out the surveys, they will receive a helpful tool, with which they can leverage more public and private financial support.” “The excitement in the Arrowhead Region over the Economic Impact Study has been rewarding,” said Bob DeArmond of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council in Duluth. “Regional artists and arts organizations have long known how important their activities are to the economy of the Arrowhead Region and they are looking forward to having a new tool that will clearly highlight their impact on the region as well as the state of Minnesota.”

Maxine Adams, Director of the Lake Region Arts Council in Fergus Falls, said, “arts organizations in our area are eager to participate in this valuable study. Our arts community is thriving and this study will demonstrate it.” Mark Turner, Director of the Five Wings Arts Council in Staples urges everyone to participate in this Economic Impact Survey. “It’s easy to argue that the arts add to our quality of life, it will be exciting to see how this tool helps us explain the quantitative impact of the arts as well.”

Greta Murray, Director of SMAHC in Marshall, said, “This survey will be an important asset to our arts community.” Mary Minnick Daniels, Director of the East Central Arts Council in Mora, is looking forward to seeing the results for the region. “It is commonly argued during hard times that the arts are a frill. When budgets are slashed often it is the arts programs (music, theater, visual art) that are cut first. With this study we are examining one aspect of the impact of the arts: are arts projects simply a luxury or, in fact, are the arts essential to the economy? In other words is creativity a key to economic vitality?”

“Arts and culture play an important role in our economy and quality of life,” said Leslie Schumacher of the Central Minnesota Arts Board. “When families and individuals attend our local arts events they often patronize surrounding shops and restaurants. The Economic Impact Survey will assist us in proving just how valuable the arts are to everyone in our region and in our state.” “We hope that many of our arts and cultural groups participate in the Economic Impact Survey,” said Brenda Flintrop of the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council in Mankato. “We are hoping that the report will confirm what we have suspected all along, that the Arts contribute significant income to rural Minnesota communities.”

Pat Alcott, Director of the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council in Rochester, said, “If we get a significant number of organizations to fill out the surveys, they will receive a helpful tool, with which they can leverage more public and private financial support.” “It is broadly recognized that the arts are an important part of this regionÕs quality of life, now this report will demonstrate yet another way that arts and culture benefit this region and the state as a whole,” said Carolyn Bye, Director of the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council in the Twin Cities.

Many Minnesota Audiences Have Already Been Surveyed

These include audiences at the Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes, the Summer Fest - Arts and Crafts Show in Fergus Falls, the Great American Think Off in New York Mills, and Theatre LÕHomme Dieu in Alexandria, Madhatters, Inc., the Quilt Show at the Morrison County Historical Society, the Thief River Falls Community Arts Council, Warren/Alverado/Oslo High School Theater Department, Northwest Minnesota Art Extension, the Headwaters School of Music, the Little Theatre of Owatonna, The Masque Youth Theatre and School, the Winona Symphony Orchestra, Honors Choir of Southeast Minnesota, the Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra, Rochester Aria Group, ACORN ChildrenÕs Theater, Bemidji Community Theater, the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour, Cambridge Isanti Performing Arts Center, Franconia Sculpture Park, the Milaca Area Festival of Fine Arts, and other events in North Branch and Sandstone, the Grand Marais Jazz Festival, the Morgan Park Music Series in Duluth and Sterling Dance in Cook County, the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association, the Blue Mound Area Theater, the Palace Theater in Luverne, Marshal Area Fine Arts Council, Wilmar Community Theatre, and the Prairie Arts Chorale in Redwood Falls, the Chamber Music Society Concert in Sauk Rapids, a polka concert in Sauk Center, a Minnesota Orchestra performance at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Center Chorale, ArtSoup Festival in Elk River, Great Northern Theater Company in Cold Spring, the Buffalo Community Theater, the Mozart Requiem in St. Peter, the Mankato ChildrenÕs Chorus, Waseca Chorale, the Waseca Arts Council, the Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Merely Players Community Theater, and PLRACÕs Opening Art Exhibit Reception, the Loft, Guthrie Theatre, Lakeville Area Art Center, the American Craft Council show at the St. Paul Civic Center, Jazzdance at the Southern Theatre, a Minnesota Opera production at the Ordway, Australian Dance Theatre at Northrop Auditorium, the Lakeshore Players in White Bear Lake and Lyric Arts Company in Anoka, Nimbus Theatre Company, Mu Center for Performing Arts, Continental Ballet Co., Ragamala Music and Dance, VocalEssence, and the Jordan Arts Festival, among others.

Research Already Shows That Minnesotans Value the Arts

In a random statewide household survey just released in January 2004, the Minnesota Center for Survey Research at the University of Minnesota asked, ÒDo you believe that arts and cultural activities help to make Minnesota an attractive place to live and work?Ó A resounding 94% of survey respondents said Òyes.Ó This study should give Minnesotans even more reasons to support the arts and culture in their communities.

Study Partners This statewide project is a collaboration of the Forum of Regional Arts Councils (RAC Forum) and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), principle partners, with major funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Additional partners include Twin Cities Performing Arts Research Coalition (PARC) project and Americans for the Arts (AFTA).

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts and conducts original research. MCA works with over 32,000 arts advocates in Minnesota. For more information on MCA, this project or statistics about the arts in Minnesota, please contact MCA Executive Director Sheila Smith at 651-251-0868, by email at she-mca@mtn.org, or view MCAÕs website: http://www.mtn.org/mca.

The Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota The mission of the Regional Arts Council Forum is to secure resources, address common issues and provide mutual support amongst the regions in order to promote the arts in Minnesota. The ForumÕs Chair is Mary Minnick-Daniels in Mora, 320-679-4065 extension 30 / ecac@ecrdc.org. —–

2. Volunteers Needed

MCA needs volunteers to help us prepare a large mailing launching the Economic Impact Study at our office in St. Paul at 2233 University Ave. #355. Stop by anytime between 9-5 Friday, July 15th, or Tuesday, July 19th. Contact Kate at MCA for more details., 651-251-0868.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

07/04/05

1. Happy 4th! Arts Freed From State Shutdown

2. Arts Continue to Do Well on Federal Level

1. Happy 4th! Arts Freed From State Shutdown

In a last minute repreive, the bill containing arts funding for the next two years was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. It was in the same bill that kept the parks open which was so widely reported on by the press last week. This means that the Minnesota State Arts Board and all eleven Regional Arts Councils will stay open for business. Also included in the bill was the Minnesota Historical Society, so that historical sites will also stay open.

In this move, the arts avoided both cuts and shutdown in yet another deficit year. This result was a culmination of the efforts of many people in the arts community, beginning with the group that met with the Governor early this year so that he agreed to recommend stable funding. Thanks are due to Rep. Gunther, our committee Chair in the House, Sen. Sams, our committee Chair in the Senate, and Sen. Richard Cohen, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, who all stuck with us throughout this tough deficit session. The large turnout at Advocacy Day helped tremendously, as did the cards, letters and emails sent by the arts community over the past several months. Thank you to everyone, including the hard working members of the MCA Board, who had a hand in this outcome. We could not further the cause of the arts if it weren’t for people like you!

So, have a Happy 4th of July, and celebrate the independence of the arts!

2. Arts Continue to Do Well on Federal Level

We have good news to report. On June 28, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) withdrew from consideration his floor amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill which would have cut FY 2006 funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by $5 million each. It became clearÊto Sen. CoburnÊthat his amendment had little supportÊfor passage, in large part because of the outcry from thousands of grassroots advocates. The Senate then passed the bill with arts funding intact. The House and Senate will convene a conference committee the week of July 11 to craft a final bill, reconciling any differences between their separate versions.ÊWe favor the House version, because it containsÊaÊhigher funding levelÊfor the NEA, and also because it would fully fund the NEAÕs Challenge America program, which primarily supports arts programs in underserved areas.ÊTherefore, we encourage you to contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support the House-approved level of $131.3 million, including full funding for Challenge America, during the House-Senate conference.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

06/02/05

1. Arts Trapped in Special Session

2. Governor Vetoes Poet Laureate

3. MCA Summer Internships Available

1. Arts Trapped in Special Session

The Governor called a special session that immediately started one minute after the regular session was to end on May 23. Since then, the three sides have been at a stalemate. The Economic Development bill that contains arts funding is one of the bills left unfinished by the legislature. Nonetheless, with the bill still open we are continuing to watch the action at the capitol, hoping that it will come to an end sooner rather than later. Until the bill is actually closed we will not rest.

2. Governor Vetoes Poet Laureate

On Friday Governor Pawlenty vetoed a bill passed by large margins in each house that would have established a MInnesota Poet Laureate. As the Minneapolis Star Tribune said, “Minnesota has a state muffin (blueberry), a state photograph (”Grace”) and a state mushroom (morel), but it decidedly won’t have a state poet laureate.”

3. MCA Summer Internships Available

ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY INTERNSHIP OPENINGS

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a nationally renowned arts advocacy organization that lobbies for state arts funding, seeks two interns to begin in June, 2005 to work on an Economic Impact Study of the Arts (EIS). The positions are less than part time (approximately 20-30 hours for the duration of the internship) and will pay a small stipend. Ê MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year. MCA also conducts research. Ê Interns will assist the MCA Field Worker with executing the study in Central Minnesota or East Central Minnesota by conducting audience surveys. Data collection for the study must be completed by October, 2005, although the internÕs commitments will primarily be between June-August. Ê One internship is available for residents of the following counties in Central Minnesota: Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, or Wright. One internship is available to residents in the following counties in East Central Minnesota: Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, or northern Anoka. Interested applicants who do not live in the above mentioned locations are encouraged to contact Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Ê

Intern will gain:

Experience working with one of the nationÕs leading arts advocacy organizations
Experience working on the first ever Statewide Economic Impact Study of the Arts for Minnesota
Experience working within the arts community
Your name included on the final publication of this important study
Some free tickets to arts events as part of your duties Ê
A qualified applicant will possess the following skills:

Excellent people skills ¥ The ability to keep a positive attitude under pressure
Independent and diligent worker
Good organizational skills Ê
Preferred but not necessary characteristics:

Knowledge of the legislative process and your local arts community
Experience with canvassing or other grassroots activities Ê
APPLY NOW. Please mail or e-mail rŽsumŽ and cover letter by June 10th, 2005 to: Kate Hannaher Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 2233 University Ave W, Suite 355 St. Paul, MN 55114 (651) 251-0868 mca@mtn.org

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

05/20/05

1. NEA Increase Passed by U.S. House!

2. July 4 Capitol Events Changed

1. NEA Increase Passed by U.S. House!

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment forÊthe Arts (NEA)Êby $10 million and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by $5 million. For the first time ever, the amendment passed by voice vote, which means there will not be a detailed record ofÊwho voted for or against this amendment.

Early in the floor debate, it became very clear that an overwhelming majority of Members supported this arts funding increase, in part because of the steady stream of constituent messages pouring in over the last 48 hours. We heard from Americans for the Arts that Minnesotans had generated the third largest numbers of emails to our members of congress - behind only New York and Florida! We suspect that arts opponents avoided a recorded vote in order to spare embarrassment.ÊThank you for your incredible hard work! We would not have achieved this terrific outcome without you. The Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment was sponsored by Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Chris Shays (R-CT), Norm Dicks (D-WA), David Price (D-NC) and Jim Leach (R-IA). Ê

The only voice of opposition to the amendment was Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Charles Taylor (R-NC), though it is important to note that Subcommittee Chairmen generally oppose all changes to their appropriations bills. Ê During debate, those speaking in favor of the amendment noted the increase in funding paled in comparisonÊto the economic return generated byÊthe arts. Members offered examples from Americans for the ArtsÕ Creative Industries study, noting the number of arts businesses and employees in their district. Ê

Two other amendments that would have cut arts funding were also shot down by overwhelming margins.

The first amendment was offered by Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO), and would have transferred $15 million from the NEA to the Payments in Lieu of Taxes conservation program. That amendment failed by a vote of 109-311. Ê

Here’s how our members of Congress voted on this amendment:

YES, CUT ARTS FUNDING by $15M:

Gil Gutknecht, R-CD1 (southern Minnesota)
John Kline, R-CD2, (southern suburbs, Burnsville to Redwing to Faribault to Waconia)
Collin Peterson, D-CD7, (north west quarter of state) * This is a change in the way he usually votes. On the next amendment to cut $30M from the NEA, he voted “NO”
NO, DON’T CUT ARTS FUNDING BY $15M:

Betty McCollum, D-CD4, (St. Paul and eastern suburbs)
Jim Oberstar, D-CD8, (north east quarter of state and Arrowhead)
Jim Ramstad, R-CD3, (western metro suburbs)
Martin Olav Sabo, D-CD5, (Minneapolis)
Mark Kennedy, R-CD 6 (St. Cloud and northern Twin Cities suburbs to Stillwater) * This is a change in the way he usually votes. On the next amendment to cut $30M from the NEA, he voted “YES.”
The second amendment was offered by Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO), and would have transferred $30 million from the NEA to wildland firefighting activities. That amendment failed by a vote of 122-298. Ê By way of comparison, the amendment offered last year by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) to reduce NEA funding in favor of U.S. Forest Service law enforcement failed by a vote of 112-313. Here’s how our members of Congress voted on this amendment:

YES, CUT ARTS FUNDING BY $30M:ÊÊ

Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-1)
Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-6)
Rep. John Kline (R-2)
NO, DON’T CUT ARTS FUNDING BY $30M:

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-4)
Rep. James Oberstar (D-8)
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-7)
Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-3)
Rep. Martin Olav Sabo (D-5)
Send a pre-written letter about the NEA funding votes on the DESKTOP LOBBYIST to your member of congress that will automatically note which way he or she voted, and either thank or express your disappointment in their vote. Try it out!

What’s next? Once the bill passes the House, it will move to the Senate for consideration, at whichÊpoint our advocacy efforts will also turnÊto the Senate to approve aÊsimilar funding increase for the two cultural agencies. Ê Thank you again for your support of the arts!

2. July 4 Capitol Events Changed

We had previously reported about some July 4 events being planned around the State Capitol’s 100th birthday this year, some of which will involve the arts.

Most of the events are still going forward, although they are no longer doing a parade, due to some complications. They have decided instead to focus on providing a July 4th celebration that focuses on the Capitol and offers an opportunity for all Minnesotans to have greater holiday access to the Capitol grounds. The revised July 4th celebration festival format will involve a “1905 Concert & Ice Cream Social” on the Capitol mall. Much of the original parade spirit will be incorporated into this family-friendly celebration. A 1,000 voice choir remains at the center of this festival along with entertainment, tours, historic exhibits, games, flags and food.

This revised event provides greater opportunities for family activities, and for getting better acquainted with the Capitol, its history and ongoing purpose. They understand that this change in the July 4th celebration format may require a re-thinking of how you would like to participate in the festivities. Volunteers, exhibits, and food, beverage and merchandise vendors are still needed. Plus, the giant choir, under the direction of Philip Brunelle, still has room for more voices and the mall has space for thousands of picnickers. For the latest information, keep checking their Web site at www.ourhouse100.com. The 2005 Capitol Centennial Commission enthusiastically invites your continued participation in this old-fashioned get-together for all Minnesotans. If you have any questions about additional opportunities at the Concert & Ice Cream Social, please contact Sylvia Olson at solson@tunheim.com or 952-851-7246.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

05/17/05

1. TAKE ACTION TODAY- Ask Congress to support Increase in Federal Arts Funding by $10 million!

2. Arts Bill In Conference Committee

3. News from the Arts Education Consortium

1. Ask Congress to support Increase in Federal Arts Funding by $10 million!

Support the Arts Caucus Amendment Across the country, arts advocates are banding together to contact their member of Congress to ask them to vote for a bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus floor amendment to increase NEA funding by $10 million for 2006.

The House of Representatives may begin hearing the FY 2006 Interior Appropriations bill on Thursday, May 19. Funding for the NEA and NEH is in this bill. Without this amendment there will be no increase over the NEA’s current funding level of $121 million. The increase proposed by the Congressional Arts Caucus would restore the Challenge America funding which targets underserved communities, especially in inner cities and rural areas (and Minnesota has received a number of those grants), and would also support the American Masterpieces program.

The Congressional Arts Caucus has offered a similar amendment each of the past five years. Those amendments were successfully passed - by increasing margins each year. Contact your Representative by 5 p.m. Wednesday because Members of Congress will not vote for this amendment unless they hear directly from their constituents.

Take 2 minutes to help increase NEA funding. Make the connection here:

2. Arts Bill In Conference Committee

The Economic Development bill, which contains arts funding, was passed by both the Minnesota House and Senate in the past week. The conference committee has been appointed, and they will hash out a compromise between the two bills. Both the House and Senate have recommended, as has the Governor, that the arts receive stable funding for the next two years. The members of the conference committee are: SENATE: Senator Dallas Sams, Chair Senator Tom Bakk, Senator Ellen Anderson, Senator Gary Kubly, Senator Dennis Frederickson HOUSE: Representativer Dennis Ozment, Chair Representative Bob Gunther, Representative Tom Hackbarth, Representative David Dille, Representative Maxine Penas

Unfortunately, activity in the legislature seems to be coming to a stalemate. With the Governor’s budget relying on gambling income, the House recommending two budgets, (one that relys on the gambling income and one that makes more cuts instead), and the Senate not interested in gambling but instead on increasing taxes to solve the budget, we seem no closer to resolution than we were several weeks ago.

We’ll keep you updated as we go along. Because we still have many hurdles to cross, it’s not too late to send letters in support of the arts to your legislators! You can do it today by clicking here: DESKTOP LOBBYIST

If you are on MCA’s snail-mail list, you should have received a set of bright green postcards in the past week or so. Waste no time in sending them in to your legislators! Your mailing label will tell you who your legislators are, all you have to do is fill in their names, write your name, and throw on a stamp. It should be really easy. There is no time to lose!

3. News from the Arts Education Consortium:

A. URGENT: Conference Committee Acting on Education Legislation

B. Tips in Becoming a More Effective Arts Advocate

C. AEC Contact Information

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A. URGENT: Conference Committee Acting on Education Legislation

It is important to note that the legislature’s action will affect education for the next two years (2006-2007). Consequently, every effort needs to be taken now in order to ensure that education and arts education is adequately funded for the next two years. Both the House and Senate Omnibus bills were voted out of committee in late April and a compromise bill is now being formed in the House/Senate Conference Committee.

The House bill would increase the basic education formula per pupil state aid, now at $4,601 per pupil, by 3% or $4,740 in FY 2006, and 3.1% or $4,885 in FY 2007. This is more than the Governor’s proposed annual increase of 2.5% for the same periods. The Senate bill provides an increase of 5% or $4,832 in FY 2006, and 4.0% or $5,053 in FY 2007. Overall, the House bill provides a $622 million increase in state aid during the next biennium versus $761 million in the Senate. Within both bills the Perpich Center for Arts Education is expected to see little or no increase in funding.

Any increase in funding for Education in Minnesota should emphasize the importance of comprehensive and sequential arts education. We need you to send a letter to your legislator today asking them to support the Senate’s K-12 education funding level. In addition, the Perpich Center for Arts Education that provides important arts education for students as well as professional development and research support for arts educators and schools throughout the state of Minnesota needs to receive at least $14 million in its operating budget for the next biennium.

How to Send a Letter A sample letter is available now by simply going on the internet. Legislators listen to their constituents, so go to the DESKTOP LOBBYIST and you will be taken through the process.

For further help, you may call Sheila Smith, Executive Director, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, at 651-251-0868.

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B. Tips in Becoming a More Effective Arts Advocate

Although this legislative session is expected to end in late May, your work as an effective arts advocate can continue throughout the year. Here are a few tips to help you become a more effective arts advocate:

Please take the time to respond to requests or action alerts that you receive. Email messages or letters have become a fast and effective way of communicating with legislators.
Legislators have time and welcome meeting invitations especially after the legislative session. The summer and fall months are especially good times to schedule meetings with legislators in their home districts. Also, consider inviting them to neighborhood or group meetings where they have the opportunity to meet with more of their constituents.
2006 is an election year for the governor, representatives and senators in Minnesota. Consequently, legislators will be eager to visit with you.
Take the time to educate your legislator and others about the importance of arts education in your community. Forward arts education materials to legislators that show the importance of the arts in your community and schools. Also, scheduled arts events and activities are great opportunities to invite legislators to.
Determine if your legislator sits on a key legislative committee. All legislators are important, but it may be especially important for you to know whether your legislator may sit on a key education or tax committee.
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C. AEC Contact Information

The AEC is not a formal organization. Rather it is a loose affiliation of educators, artists and organizations passionate about the importance of arts education to Minnesota’s children. If you have ideas, concerns or need more information you may contact any one the members of the AEC Steering Committee:

Steve Barberio (AATE): sbarberio@mn.rr.com

Colleen Callahan (DEC): dec@pconline.com

Craig Dunn (VSA Arts): craig.vsarts@bcmn.com

Tom Gale (Alliance): tgale@mn.rr.com

Kathy Gerdts-Senger (AEM): kathleen.gerdts-senger@isd742.org

Jill Lofald (CTAM): jill.lofald@duluth.k12.mn.us

Kevan Nitzberg (AEM): knitzber@ties2.net

Doug Orzolek (MMEA): dcorzolek@stthomas.edu

Bob Ouren (MMEA): bob_ouren@rdale.k12.mn.us

Mary Schaefle (MMEA): Schaefle@mmea.org

Sheila Smith (MCA): she-mca@mtn.org

Dan Tjornehoj (AEC): dtjorneh@pressenter.com

You may also contact a member of the Perpich Center for Arts Education staff for research and resources related to arts education programs and policies:

Mike Hiatt: michael.hiatt@pcae.k12.mn.us

Virginia McFerran: virginia.mcferran@pcae.k12.mn.us

Pam Paulson: pam.paulson@pcae.k12.mn.us

Finally, we welcome any donation to the work of the AEC by sending a check to Minnesota Music Educators Association, which serves as the fiscal agent for the AEC. Send your check to: Minnesota Music Educators Association 6860 Shingle Creek Pkwy #103 Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. Make sure to designate on your check that it is for arts education advocacy.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

05/12/05

1. Arts Bill Passes Minnesota House, Senate

2. Tax Provision That Could Help Arts Passes Mnnesota House

3. Statewide Dance Meeting Tomorrow

1. Arts Bill Passes Minnesota House, Senate

The Economic Development bill, which contains arts funding, was passed by both the Minnesota House and Senate in the past week. The next step is a conference committee where they will hash out a compromise between the two bills. Both the House and Senate have recommended, as has the Governor, that the arts receive stable funding for the next two years. Members of this conference committee have not yet been appointed, so we are waiting to find out who the decision makers will be on this bill.

Unfortunately, activity in the legislature seems to be coming to a stalemate. With the Governor’s budget relying on gambling income, the House recommending two budgets, (one that relys on the gambling income and one that makes more cuts instead), and the Senate not interested in gambling but instead on increasing taxes to solve the budget, we seem no closer to resolution than we were several weeks ago.

We’ll keep you updated as we go along. Because we still have many hurdles to cross, it’s not too late to send letters in support of the arts to your legislators! You can do it today by clicking here:

If you are on MCA’s snail-mail list, you should have received a set of bright green postcards in the past week or so. Waste no time in sending them in to your legislators! Your mailing label will tell you who your legislators are, all you have to do is fill in their names, write your name, and throw on a stamp. It should be really easy. There is no time to lose!

2. Tax Provision That Could Help Arts Passes Minnesota House

A tax provision that could result in a flurry of half-cent sales tax increases in cities across the state passed the Minnesota House on Wednesday on an 80-53 bipartisan vote. The broad-ranging local sales tax option would allow virtually any community, for the first time, to seek a half-cent sales tax increase from its citizens without first obtaining specific legislative approval.

The provision specifies that any city with a population of 2500 or more, or a group of cities acting together, could increase their local sales tax by a half cents to pay for “specific regional capital projects that provide benefit to personss outside of the city boundaries…as well as to the city, and is approved by the voters” in an authorizing referendum. Among the qualifying projects listed in the provision are “regional public libraries, regional history centers, and performing arts centers.”

If also passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, this provision could provide a new revenue source for building arts facilities around the state. We will provide further information on this bill in the next week.

3. Statewide Dance Meeting Tomorrow

The McKnight Foundation is convening a meeting tomorrow at the new theater in the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis about “How can we collectively enhance and support our efforts to make dance and dance artists thrive in Minnesota? Where are we now? Where to we want to be?” It will be held Friday, May 13, from 9 am to 5:30 pm. The meeting is an outgrowth of a similar meeting last year on the same topic. Whether or not you were a part of the effort last year, you are invited to participate.

The format will be Open Space Technology, rather than on a pre-set agenda. Open Space allows the people in attendance to decide what’s most pressing and to organize discussions of only what’s most important to them. If you’d like to attend, send an email with your name to rsvp@mcknight.org, or call 612-336-3731, or check out http://www.mnartists.org/MN_Dance_Gathering. The event is free. Lunch will be provided.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!
Join Our Arts Advocacy Family

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts 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 printing out the membership form on our website at http://www.mtn.org/mca. Individual dues are just $30, and a household membership is just $40. Thank you!

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org.

04/26/05

ADVOCACY:

1. Virtual Arts Advocacy Day Knocks their Socks Off

2. Mail your Postcards to Legislators Today!

UPDATES:

3. Announcing the Winner of the “GOT ART?” T-Shirt Contest

4. Shubert Theater Receives Funding from Bonding Bill

5. Arts Education Consortium of Minnesota Update

1. Virtual Arts Advocacy Day Knocks their Socks Off

Wow! That was fun. In just 24 hours on April 20, Minnesota’s arts community generated 1230 emails to the legislature to support the arts. This included 1078 messages about the arts appropriation and 152 messages in support of the Perpich Center for Arts Education.

Did it do us any good? You bet! On Friday both the House and Senate funding committees passed appropriations bills that did what we asked - to support Gov. Pawlenty’s recommendation for stable arts funding. Because of the state’s budget deficit, the legislature is cutting all kinds of programs, but thanks to your help and the work of the MCA Board, the arts were protected. So, THANKS, guys! You are great!

What happens next? The bills go through the Ways and Means Committee in the House and the Finance Committee in the Senate, on their way to their respective floors, and then onto Conference Committee. We’ll keep you updated as we go along. Because we still have many hurdles to cross, it’s not too late to send letters in support of the arts to your legislators! You can do it today by clicking here:

To continue to support the arts as we progress through these committees, we are also launching a postcard campaign:

2. Mail your Postcards to Legislators Today!

If you are on MCA’s snail-mailing list, you should receive a set of bright green postcards in the next few days. Waste no time in sending them in to your legislators! Your mailing label will tell you who your legislators are, all you have to do is fill in their name, write your name, and throw on a stamp. It should be really easy. We have 3000 extra postcard sets here in the office if you want to get some to give to your friends, family, co-workers or audiences. Just give Jane a call at 651-251-0868 or at field@mtn.org or stop by the office to get some. PLEASE MAIL YOUR CARDS BY MAY 1. There is no time to lose!

3. Announcing the Winner of the “GOT ART?” T-Shirt Contest

Congratulations to Susannah Dodge, the winner of MCA’s “Got Art” t-shirt contest! As part of MCA’s annual Arts Advocacy Day at the State Capitol, partipants were invited to use MCA’s “Got Art?” iron-on decals to make a personal statement about their support for the arts, and enter MCA’s “Got Art?” t-shirt contest. Arts Advocates from throughout the state voted for their favorite shirt. Susannah received a total of 60 votes for her handmade, stylish shirt. She will receive one of our fabulous “Arts Advocate” welcome mats. MCA would like to thank everyone who participated in the contest: we were amazed at all of the creative entries. To view our gallery of all the “Got Art?” contest participants, visit mnartists.org.

4. Shubert Theater Receives Funding from Bonding Bill

After many years of work, the Shubert Theater succeeded in getting $1 million in planning funds from the bonding bill this month. Congratulations to Artspace for this success. Unfortunately, other arts projects such as the Ordway renovation project were not funded. The bonding bill funds building projects for the state of regional or statewide impact. Projects receiving bonding funds must be owned by a unit of government. The money that goes to these projects is of a different type and is in a different committee from the funds that we seek as a community to fund the arts statewide. Just so you know, MCA does not lobby for bonding projects.

5. Arts Education Consortium of Minnesota Update

In This Issue:

A. Arts Education Consortium of Minnesota (AEC) is Formed

B. The AEC’s First Community Meeting

C. URGENT: Perpich Center for Arts Education Funding Threatened

D. AEC Position Statements

E. How to Become More Involved

A. Arts Education Consortium of Minnesota (AEC) is Formed

The Arts Education Consortium of Minnesota (AEC) was formed by a group of organizations and individuals representing educators and artists that work in arts education in Minnesota. Representing educators and teaching artists in dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual art, the mission of AEC is: To Promote and advocate for comprehensive and sequential arts education for all Minnesota students which achieves active engagement in and through the arts. The AEC steering committee is comprised of representatives from:

American Alliance for Theatre and Education
Art Educators of Minnesota
Communication and Theatre Association of Minnesota
Dance Educators Coalition
Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
Minnesota Music Educators Association
VSA Arts of Minnesota
(The Perpich Center for Arts Education serves as a resource to the AEC).
B. The AEC’s First Community Meeting

The AEC held its first community meeting at the Perpich Center for Arts Education a few weeks ago. It was an opportunity for consortium members to come together to share ideas and concerns and for people unfamiliar with the consortium to learn of its mission, meet its representatives and to meet Dan Tjornehoj who has been contracted to be the lobbyist for the AEC. Mary Schaefle, Executive Director of the Minnesota Music Educators of Minnesota, chaired the meeting.

C. URGENT: Perpich Center for Arts Education Funding Threatened

The Governor has pledged to increase education funding. However, he is recommending a 2.6% decrease in funding for the Perpich Center for Arts Education. This proposed reduction comes on the heels of a 15% cutback in the previous biennium. Further cuts in funding for education, including arts education, can only mean that the average Minnesota student will be afforded fewer educational opportunities at a time when they are faced with increased pressure to succeed in the classroom. Many studies confirm that arts education is vital to studentsÕ cognitive, social and emotional development. Send a letter to your legislator today asking them to increase funding for the Perpich Center for Arts Education. While education funding is expected to receive a 2-3% increase in budget, the Perpich Center for Arts Education budget is being reduced. Also send a letter to your legislator in support of the increase to the education budget. The overall increase will, in part, support arts education in the schools. The legislature is in the process of setting the budget for the next two fiscal years including funding for the Perpich Center. Consequently, it is important that any proposed legislation highlight the need and importance of funding the Perpich Center for Arts Education.

How to Send a Letter: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) has made available its web based program that enables you to easily and efficiently send letters to your legislators. Legislators listen to their constituents, so go to the DESKTOP LOBBYIST. Just click on this link and you will be taken through the process. For further help, you may call Sheila Smith, Executive Director, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, at 651-251-0868.

D. AEC Position Statements

During this legislative session and after the session closes in May, the AEC has determined that it must focus its energies on five key issues:

An increase in the funding of arts education programs is necessary to meet the federal and state requirements, and to ensure that every child has an opportunity to learn in and through the arts.
The Perpich Center for Arts Education must be appropriated sufficient funds to successfully achieve its mission.
The arts have been acknowledged as a core subject at the federal, state and local level. We request that the state hold schools accountable to the arts education standards.
We support the inclusion of all arts areas under the definition of “highly qualified” educator.
We seek separate licensure status for dance and theatre in addition to combined licensure.
E. How to Become More Involved

The AEC is not a formal organization. Rather it is a loose affiliation of educators, artists and organizations passionate about the importance of arts education to Minnesota’s children. If you have ideas, concerns or need more information you may contact any one the members of the AEC Steering Committee:

Steve Barberio (AATE): sbarberio@mn.rr.com

Colleen Callahan (DEC): dec@pconline.com

Craig Dunn (VSA Arts): craig.vsarts@bcmn.com

Tom Gale (Alliance): tgale@mn.rr.com

Kathy Gerdts-Senger (AEM): kathleen.gerdts-senger@isd742.org

Jill Lofald (CTAM): jill.lofald@duluth.k12.mn.us

Kevin Nitzberg (AEM): knitzber@ties2.net

Doug Orzolek (MMEA): dcorzolek@stthomas.edu

Bob Ouren (MMEA): bob_ouren@rdale.k12.mn.us

Mary Schaefle (MMEA): Schaefle@mmea.org

Sheila Smith (MCA): she-mca@mtn.org

Dan Tjornehoj (AEC): dtjorneh@pressenter.com

You may also contact a member of the Perpich Center for Arts Education staff for research and resources related to arts education programs and policies:

Mike Hiatt: michael.hiatt@pcae.k12.mn.us

Virginia McFerran: virginia.mcferran@pcae.k12.mn.us

Pam Paulson: pam.paulson@pcae.k12.mn.us

Finally, you may make a donation to the work of the AEC by sending a check to Minnesota Music Educators Association, which serves as the fiscal agent for the AEC. Be sure to designate your donation for arts education advocacy. Send your check to: Minnesota Music Educators Association 6860 Shingle Creek Pkwy #103 Brooklyn Center, MN 55430.

http://www.mtn.org/mca

Your frequently updated, one-stop site for:

information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
how you can get involved
an Action Center called the DESKTOP LOBBYIST where you can write a letter to your legislator
or even find out who your legislators are
facts about the arts in Minnesota
the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issue
And more!

04/05/05

1. April 20: JOIN THE VIRTUAL RALLY FOR THE ARTS!

2. July 4: Fun Opportunity for Choirs, Bands, Artists

3. Websticker Available for Arts Websites

1. “Virtual Rally for the Arts” on April 20!

The legislature will soon be making arts funding decisions that will affect the health of the arts community for the next two years. The deadline for legislative Finance Committees is April 22. This gives us just sixteen days to convince legislators to protect the arts.

Join us for our first - ever Virtual Rally for the Arts on April 20.

What’s a Virtual Rally for the Arts?

On April 20, you can be a part of a rally for the arts, all on-line! No fuss, no muss! You don’t have to go to the Capitol, take time off work, get dressed up, or spend all day.

All you have to do is go to our DESKTOP LOBBYIST on April 20 to send letters to your legislators asking them to support the arts.

What’s Our Goal?

Our goal is to generate 2000 emails to legislators in one day, highlighting the importance of the arts to Minnesota. Legislators will have to sit up and take notice.

What’s Our Message?

Our message is that the arts are important to Minnesota, and we want legislators to support Gov. Pawlenty’s recommedation for stable arts funding. We also want, as soon as possible, the previous cuts to the arts to be restored.

Who Should Participate?

Anyone who cares about the future of the arts in Minnesota.

How Do I Do It?

Go on-line anytime between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm on April 20 (or before) and use our DESKTOP LOBBYIST to send your message. Then, forward this alert to your friends and encourage them to join in. If we all take just five minutes on April 20, we can make a difference for the arts.

How Else Can I Help?

Starting today, forward this alert to as many friends, organizations and artists as you can, and encourage them to be a part of the Virtual Rally for the Arts. For this Virtual Rally to succeed, we’ll need the help and participation of friends of the arts from all over the state. Thank you for your help!

2. July 4: Fun Opportunity for Choirs, Bands, Artists

Minnesota’s state capitol is celebrating it’s 100th birthday this year, and you are invited to take part in the festivities. The state capitol is our House - the people’s house! A huge July 4th parade is being planned that will start with a giant, thousand person choir on the capitol steps. If you are part of a band and want to be in the parade, or are part of a choir and want to be part of the giant choir, or are an artist and would like to create an arts float, you are invited to participate. Organizers are committed to having a big arts presence in the days festivities. Parade and choir entrance forms can be found HERE.

This will be the biggest Minnesota parade in history as it travels from the Capitol to the Mississippi River. All parts of the state and every community will be represented in historic units, regimental re-enactors, performers, Macy-style balloons, marching bands, floats, celebrities, fun cars and more. The choral event starts at noon on the steps of the state capitol building, followed by a Civil War flag presentation at 11:30 and the parade, which begins at 12:30.
Complete your festive day with a visit to the Capitol, History Center tours, and Taste of Minnesota for an evening fireworks over downtown St. Paul.
Bands that are selected are asked to march in uniform, and to play music that they feel best fits this remarkable occasion. Two school buses will be given to each participating high school band for their transportation needs to and from the event. Bands must be in their designated location and ready by 9:30 the morning of the parade. Any high school band interested should also apply by filling out the application online.
INFO FOR CHOIRS

Wanted: 1,000 Harmonious Minnesotans Participants sought for a volunteer choir, to be directed by Philip Brunelle, to highlight the Capitol Centennial Fourth of July Celebration MinnesotaÕs Capitol Centennial Commission is seeking 1,000 volunteers to comprise one of the largest choirs in Minnesota history to perform in honor of the Minnesota State Capitol Centennial on the Fourth of July. As part of a full day of celebration, Philip Brunelle, founder and artistic director for VocalEssence, will direct the choir, which will perform an array of classic patriotic songs, including the Minnesota State song, on the capitol steps. The application process is open to all individuals and choir groups throughout Minnesota. The Fourth of July Capitol Centennial Celebration will engage the entire state and its citizens. Therefore, the Capitol Centennial Celebration subcommittee requests that all choirs and individuals who wish to participate in this performance, indicate their interest by filling out the form that can be downloaded from the Capitol CentennialÕs Web site, www.ourhouse100.com, or by calling (952) 893-1111 to have the form mailed.

INFO FOR BANDS

Bands that are selected are asked to march in uniform, and to play music that they feel best fits this remarkable occasion. Two school buses will be given to each participating high school band for their transportation needs to and from the event. Bands must be in their designated location and ready by 9:30 the morning of the parade. Any high school band interested should also apply by filling out the application online.

INFO FOR FLOATS

Want to make a float and be in the parade? Go to http://ourhouse100.com/celebrations.php?sub=2 to fill out the application form, and describe what you want to do. A parade committee will go through the applications and select which ones will be in the parade. They would like to have applications in by the end of April, 2005.

Questions? Contact Sheila Smith at she-mca@mtn.org.
3. Websticker Available for Arts Websites

Put Me On Your Website!

Link your friends and supporters to arts advocacy! The new Minnesota Citizens for the Arts web-sticker is ready. You can get this web-sticker for your own website to help the arts in Minnesota.

The web-sticker puts arts advocacy at your supporter’s fingertips. With one click, they can get directly to the DESKTOP LOBBYIST and participate in advocating for the arts.

HOW-TO GET THE WEB STICKER:

1. Go to the DESKTOP LOBBYIST and scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Web Sticker.”

2. Then, simply choose which sticker you like best, click on the banner above it where it says, “Click Here to Obtain This Web Sticker Code.”

3. Copy the HTML text that appears,

4. and then paste the HTML text on your website where you would like the sticker to be.

5. Post your edited page. The web-sticker will then be ready for use on your site.

BACKGROUND: What’s Up At the Legislature:

The state is dealing with another deficit. The last time the legislature worked on the state budget they cut the arts by 32%. (This was a larger cut than that received by almost any other program). Because of the deficit, cuts to a variety of programs are being discussed again. As the Finance Deadline approaches on April 22, the legislature is searching for a way out of the state’s deficit problem. The House and Senate are going very different directions on how to solve the state’s budget problems, so the fighting and increasing tension are just beginning. We will be vigilant in watching the action and responding as the bills start moving.Our focus is on making sure that the legislature supports Gov. Pawlenty’s recommendation for stable arts funding.

To protect the arts, we must act now!

You Can Make A Difference.

Arts advocates like you have shown that they can influence the outcome of legislation affecting the arts.

Take Action at the DESKTOP LOBBYIST.

Make your voice heard. Take five minutes to ask your legislators to support the arts today!