For the last
month, Americans for the Arts has been working with the field, Congress,
and the Obama Transition Team to include support for the nonprofit arts
sector and individual artists in any federal economic recovery
package. With your help, we have been compiling examples of how the
recession has affected arts groups. We are getting this compelling
information along with our economic impact data into the hands of key
policy leaders in Washington.
Last week,
Americans for the Arts officially proposed Nine Recommendations for Economic Recovery & the Arts to help nonprofit and governmental arts
groups as well as individual artists during this economic downturn.
Today, Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob Lynch met with the
Obama Transition Team to discuss these and other ideas.
Also today, the
House Appropriations Committee released an $825 billion economic recovery package. Included in the proposed bill is an
infusion of $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (in
addition to its annual appropriations) to specifically preserve jobs in
the nonprofit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and
other support. The House plan proposes additional opportunities
throughout other parts of the federal government that could also help the
nonprofit arts sector and individual artists. Many of these other
opportunities correspond closely with our Recommendations for Economic
Recovery & the Arts.
Here’s a
summary analysis of how the Americans for the Arts recommendations
compare to the related provisions currently in the House bill:
|
Americans
for the Arts Recommendations
|
House
of Representatives Proposal
|
|
Include artists in the proposal for Unemployment
& Healthcare Benefits for Part-Time Employees
|
Proposes to extend unemployment insurance coverage
for low-wage, part-time, and other jobless workers
|
|
Boost arts projects in Community Development Block
Grants (CDBG)
|
$1 billion in additional funding for CDBG
|
|
Provide economic recovery support to the National
Endowment for the Arts to be administered by local arts agencies
|
$50 million in additional appropriations for the
National Endowment for the Arts
|
|
Include cultural planning through Economic
Development Administration program (Department of Commerce)
|
$250 million for Economic Development Assistance
|
|
Increase community cultural facilities support in
Rural Development Program (Department of Agriculture)
|
$200 million for critical rural community facilities
|
|
Provide more support for arts projects in
Transportation Enhancements (Department of Transportation)
|
$31 billion to modernize federal and other public
infrastructure
|
|
Fulfill the Obama pledge for an “Artist
Corps”
|
$200 million to put approximately 16,000 additional
AmeriCorps members to work doing national service
|
|
Make Human Capital Investments in Arts Job Training
(U.S.
Department of Labor)
|
$5 billion for working training and employment
services
|
Take Action
The Senate and the White House will likely unveil additional versions of
an economic recovery package. We are calling on arts advocates to
contact your House and Senate members and your local media to raise the
profile of why it’s important to ensure there is support for the
nonprofit arts sector in the federal economic recovery plan.
1.
Write to your Members of Congress
2.
Send a letter to the editor of your local media
Thank you to the members of the Arts Action Fund for all their support in the ArtsVote2008 presidential campaign effort and making
record contributions to the Arts Action Fund Political Action Committee
in support of arts friendly Congressional candidates. Not a member? Join for free today.
Click here.
to remove your name from receiving e-mails regarding arts advocacy
Click
to also remove your name from receiving other e-mails from Americans for
the Arts or its Arts Action Fund
|
