state arts action network

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Meeting Minutes and State of the State Report

March 13, 2005

Jurys Washington Hotel
1500 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Burlington A Meeting Room
3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
March 13, 2005

1. Welcome and Self Introductions. Co-Chairs Betty Plumb and Alene Valkanas welcomed the group and went over housekeeping issues. Self introductions were then made.
2. State Survey Results. Americans for the Arts Director of State Arts Policy Jay Dick then presented a detailed overview of the recently completed state survey The State of the Field: A Look at Statewide Arts Advocacy and Service Organizations. Jay distributed a hard copy of the report to each attendee. To see the full presentation, please go to:  http://ww3.artsusa.org/get_involved/advocacy/saan/saan_001.asp
3. State of the State Reports. One member from each state was asked, in two to three minutes to provide the group an overview of their major activities. Reports are listed in state alpha order.
• Lisa Caretto, California Arts Advocates
  California has a new director for the state agency California Arts Council (CAC)—Muriel Johnson. She has been well received and is savvy in government, budgets, and the arts.
  
  The governor's budget proposal for FY2005–06 is $1.095 million from the general fund, $1 million from the arts license plate fund, and $1 million from the NEA. The CAC administration is at $1.5 million, the arts license plate money can only go to arts education, leaving $500,000 for grants. Lisa offered her thanks to Americans for the Arts for Capwiz. It was launched successfully a couple of months ago, and it is generating great enthusiasm among the arts field.
  
  On the legislative front, AB 655 was introduced by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). If passed, it would create a 1 percent surcharge on entertainment admissions, with the money going to the CAC. It is believed that this could raise in the first year about $30 million for the CAC. To pass, it needs the support of the creative industry. They plan to bring in to the advocacy network: The Creative Coalition, AFTRA, Screen Actors Guild, Writers/Producers Guild, PTA, and Chambers of Commerce. A second bill, SB 691, was introduced by Senator Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) that would remove the environmental fund portion collected from the arts license plate sales, allowing for all of the money to go to arts programs. (If this were the case last year, the CAC would have received an additional $300,000 in 2004.) California Arts Advocates is tracking more than 20 bills that impact the arts, including a satellite fee, restoring $6 million to the Department of Education budget for the Arts Work program, minimum-wage bills, and musician independent contracting.
  
  California Arts Advocates has met with Governor Schwarzenegger's Chief Deputy Legislative Secretary and asked for the following:
  1. A public service announcement for the arts license plate
  2. Take a wait-and-see position on AB 655 until we get all of the parties to the table for a discussion
  3. Begin thinking about an added component to his "California Grown" marketing plan, and call it "California Grown Creatively"
  4. Regarding the California Performance Review, please do not put the California Arts Council in the Volunteer Service Agency section, but let it remain by itself with a clear, single identity serving the arts in California
  
  Lisa noted that a member of the governor’s staff, who was a "fly on the wall" during budget negotiations last June, stated that the people who got what they wanted were those who came in with a positive attitude, a business plan, were organized and did not whine. This is the direction that the Arts in California plan to go as they advocate the arts message.
• Allen Hoffman, Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism
  Their arts-budget needs take priority for them during the legislative session. Arts in general do well in the Connecticut budget. If there are cuts, they are across-the-board cuts and are not targeting the arts. Their new governor’s priorities are ethics and the budget is clearly on the back burner. The governor proposed almost a 20 percent cut for the arts. But the majority party's budget will likely be better for the arts and most if not all of the governor’s proposed cuts will likely be restored. Given that the House and Senate are almost veto proof, it is their budgets that matter the most. They also have lots of new leadership in the legislature. He is tracking 100 bills, 15 of which deal directly with arts issues. Their hotel tax takes care of tourism. Their new agency now has regular appropriations.
  
  Hoffman stated that he expected a successful outcome with obtaining bond funds. He also mentioned their ongoing line item debate, and their involvement with the Wallace Foundation project. There is also the possibility of a new arts advocacy organization in Connecticut. They are (as part of a long-term legislative strategy) beginning to develop the valuation and promotion of a "Portfolio of Authentic Cultural Assets and Tourist Attractions" found in Connecticut.
  
  Hoffman also mentioned that if there is talk of restructuring the executive branch and its departments in your state, be sure that you are at the table and part of the conversation so that you can provide input and perspective. This is most important with regard to the funding structure.
• Sherron Long, Florida Cultural Alliance
  In Fiscal Year 2003–2004, Florida's arts and cultural constituencies suffered a large cut in state funding—from $28 million in FY 2003 to $6 million in FY 2004—due to poor economic conditions, term limits kicking in, and at the same time, the Secretary of State switching from being an elected position to a governor appointee. The legislature and governor also wanted to do away with many of the state's trust funds, including the Cultural Institutions Trust Fund. This dedicated revenue source provided annual revenue between $15 and $20 million dollars each year to fund arts, cultural, and historical program-grant line items, leaving nonrecurring general revenue to fund cultural and historical facilities' projects. The Cultural Institutions Trust fund was eliminated by the legislature and the governor, leaving Florida's arts, cultural, and historical constituencies fighting for general revenue to support their position for both program and facility grant funds. They regrouped and decided goals collectively. They continue to coordinate monthly statewide conference calls with local arts agencies and statewide arts and cultural service organizations to keep each other updated and strategies on target. Working together, they initiated and are continuing a statewide campaign: “Arts and Culture—part of the solution."  Talking points were compiled for each area of the campaign: economic diversification and development, student achievement, tourism, job growth, quality of life, and community development. Over 200,000 postcards were mailed to legislators throughout the state and buttons with "Arts and Culture—part of the solution: Ask me how" were also distributed and worn at county delegation and state meetings. The statewide efforts proved successful by securing $14 million in restored funds in FY 2004–2005, and the goal is to restore state funding to FY 2003 levels in FY 2005–2006. They are a Capwiz affiliates and have a program called “Click, Zip and Influence.”  Arts education issues are also a priority in Florida.
• Susan Killeen, Hawaii Consortium for the Arts
  They have a republican governor and a Democratic legislature. Last year, the governor cut $500,000 from the State Arts Agency’s $1.2 million budget, but the funding was creatively restored after a successful e-mail advocacy campaign. The governor used an untapped federal fund—TANF funds (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)—and identified some of this for programs that serve children and at-risk youth. The governor has again decided to cut $500,000 for the upcoming biennium, and solutions are pending.
  
  State grants funding was cut drastically in 1994 and the State Arts Agency hasn’t received an increase since. The State Arts Agency and the Hawaii Consortium for the Arts have requested a $2 million increase this year in the form of two legislative bills. Tourism is the major industry in Hawaii and the Hawaii Tourism Authority receives $60 million a year, giving the Hawaii Consortium for the Arts $100,000 a year to produce the Hawaii Arts Season. Susan needs to do more fundraising, but doesn’t have enough time with current responsibilities as the sole staff person.
• Alene Valkanas, Illinois Arts Alliance
  The Illinois Arts Alliance and Foundation published an annual report this year:  “Invest in Creativity.” They used the budget from printed newsletters (they do all communiqués by e-mail now) and contracted with a designer and printer so that the annual report can work as a general information piece about the organizations. They did not have an advocacy day at the capital, but instead focused on 14 events in the districts of appropriation committee members. It proved to be very successful. The governor cut the Arts Agency’s budget by 8 percent, but she is confident that both appropriations committees will restore the funding. They recently did a Capwiz alert asking the House and Senate committees to restore the governor's cuts to the arts budget, and were very successful sending 6,000 e-mails in five days. Arts education advocacy is a large part of their work. They are creating a coalition of partners and are working with a volunteer public relations firm to brand the new coalition and to help set up the legislative and communication strategies. Their foundation is active continuing the leadership succession/development work begun four years ago. They just released a research report on executive director compensation packages. The biggest item was on benefits where only 10 percent of groups contribute to the retirement of their employees. Also, 40 percent of groups are volunteer-run groups. They are co-convening a conference with the state council in May, when additional projects will be released: mentoring, working easier, and interim directorships.
• Sally Gaskill, Arts Alliance Indiana, Inc.
  The annual Indiana arts advocacy day will be at end of March. In Indiana, the big issues are jobs and the economy. They have a new lapel button, “The arts mean jobs in Indiana.” The controversial legislation in Indiana is daylight savings time. The Bloomington Area Arts Council is her day job. Their two statewide arts organizations—one for service, one for advocacy—are engaged in merger talks.  The situation is that there are two weaker organizations that need to merge into a strong one.
• Cecilia Wooden, Arts Kentucky
  The Governor’s Awards in the Arts award ceremony was held in Frankfort, KY, in February. Participation included Kentucky Arts Council staff, board, Commerce Cabinet executive liaison, legislators, and the general public. Arts Kentucky organized their arts advocacy day that same day. Activities included a poster display in the tunnel leading from the capital annex to the capital (signage included organizational information as well as the names of the legislators representing the district). Jay Dick visited Frankfort as part of that program and spoke to advocates about the creative industries. His participation contributed to the success of the day.
  
  The chair of the Kentucky Arts Council has taken an interest in looking at the grants programs. He has demonstrated a significant favor of urban arts organizations, specifically Louisville-based arts organizations, over other urban areas and certainly over rural areas.  He is often reminded by other members of the council board that the focus must be a state-wide view.
  
  This year’s budget bill included flat funding for the Kentucky Arts Council, but also required any entity financing or producing art that has received over $25,000 in the past 18 months from state or local government to operate as a public entity, subject to the open meetings and open records statutes. This is problematic, as arts organizations are targeted in this budget bill whereas no other entity receiving public funding are expected to operate under the same statutes.
• Joycelyn Reynolds, Louisiana Partnership for the Arts (LPA)
  They are a new member of the SAAN. They are a volunteer run organization with a hired lobbyist. During the 1983 legislative session, the Louisiana Division of the Arts’ entire budget of $500,000 was eliminated. The next fiscal year, due to a strong grassroots effort of the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts, the state arts budget in Louisiana went from zero to $4.2 million, a dollar for every citizen. They are now at $4.7 million, down from a high of $5.2 million. The LPA gets a grant from the state for educational purposes, and then they raise money for their lobbyist. Their legislative priority is keeping the arts at a minimum of $4.7 million and with the hope of getting the $5.2 million restored. Their longtime goal is getting two dollars per capita for the arts (when the timing is right). They have an annual arts legislative event, usually a cocktail party, which 60–70 percent of legislators attend. They commission or buy small favors as legislative gifts for this function.
• Pamela G. Holt, Maryland Citizens for the Arts
  Maryland is the only legislature in the country where they can’t add to the governor’s budget request, but can only cut. The session has been very difficult with the legislature being in session on Saturdays and Sundays, and more challenging than usual. By law, the General Assembly meets for 90 days. State law requires that the governor put in certain amount of funds into the arts budget each year, but Governor Ehrlich had ignored this for the arts and any other mandated requests. Recently, the governor held a press conference about adding money to the arts budget, announcing a $500,000 increase in the grants category, which includes potential federal funds. Then his budget came out adding only $280,000 to the overall budget of which he removed $180,000 by "contingency." This is how the law has been circumvented. Things are confusing to the field. The administration is embarrassed but has privately indicated that they will make good on the original promise of $500,000.
  
  We are currently monitoring four other arts-related bills: one on public art, one to establish an income tax check off for the arts, one to increase funding for designated heritage areas, and one on an amendment for statewide arts and entertainment districts. We recently had their state arts day which was very successful.
• Dan Hunter, Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH)
  In 2002, the Massachusetts Cultural Council budget was cut by 62 percent by a line item veto. During the fall campaign, all nine gubernatorial candidates said they love the arts, but would not restore funding until the economy recovered. Our challenge was to demonstrate the economic value of arts and culture. MAASH testified in economic development hearings and proposed new funding for cultural economic development. The MAASH proposal required cultural organizations to partner with local business and government leaders. A key part of the strategy was to develop advocacy allies among the mayors. The MAASH proposal became known as the John Abigail Adams Arts Fund and passed both the House and Senate and survived the conference committee. Three days before the veto deadline, MAASH learned that the governor was prepared to veto the fund. Through Capwiz, MAASH generated over 500 e-mails and letters in 48 hours. The governor did not veto the new funding. Since the 2002 cut, MAASH has consistently linked arts and culture to the state’s economy, arguing that arts and culture create the infrastructure for tourism. The legislature recently reorganized the committee structure and recognized this role for arts and culture by creating a new Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. Arts and culture are now linked with the state’s second largest industry.
• Sheila Smith, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
  Their recent Arts Advocacy Day was very successful with 750 attendees. The reason for such a successful event was because the governor cut the arts agency’s budget by 40 percent two years ago, and they are still behind in funding. So, they had republican contributors harassing the governor in addition to grassroots activities. This year, the budget calls for stable funding for the agency.  New at Arts Advocacy Day was their “Got Art” promotion. It had two parts. First, they sent all the attendees an iron-on decal that says "Got Art? Tell your legislator to support the arts at: www.mtn.org/mca." Attendees then put them on t-shirts and wore them to the capital. The second part was a poster of a cow that said "Got Art?" that carried facts and figures about the arts in Minnesota that was given to legislators on advocacy day. This was a very successful promotion, as no matter where you turned on Arts Advocacy Day, someone had a "Got Art" t-shirt on. In an effort to get people to go to their website, they made 35,000 bookmarks that have their website address on it that say "VOTE ART." There is also an effort to get others to put web stickers on their own sites, linking back to Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.
  
  They have passed the 5,000 person milestone on their advocacy e-list. They also have a new program called “Campus Arts Advocates.” The basic idea is to identify a student on every campus to organize arts supporters. This program is showing signs of success, as 150 college kids came to arts advocacy day. Lastly, they are just starting a statewide economic development study with Americans for the Arts that will include 12 separate studies: one statewide, and eleven regional studies.
• John Barsness, Montana Arts
  Their legislature meets every other year and for only 90 days. Nine months ago the state was projecting a $300 million deficit, now they project a $250 surplus. Their outgoing governor proposed restoring $3.9 million that was "borrowed" in 1997 from the cultural trust. Their state agency budget is flat again this year. The previous two sessions it was cut 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
• Judy Weiner, Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations
  The arts industry in the state of New York is not in good shape economically. Arts organizations are suffering because the economy is not doing well, although it is starting to rebound. Historically, a two-year lag time exists between economic upturns or downturns and the impact they have on the arts organizations. Many arts organizations are in debt and running operating deficits for the first time. Arts councils are particularly hard hit; several have closed their doors. Interestingly, rural arts councils are in better shape.
  
  They are in the middle of state advocacy campaign. The full legislative session begins in January and historically has run until October, since New York has not had an on-time budget (April 1) in 20 years. The State Arts Council’s budget is being held level at $34.7 million by the governor. It was level in the previous year, but in the two years prior New York experienced a 25 percent cut. This year they have submitted an amended cultural development areas bill. This is an economic stimulator with tax incentives and tax credits to stimulate and encourage private investment in the arts. They expect this legislation will be passed this year.
  
  They are excited with Capwiz, as they now have over 3,000 supporters on their e-mail list. They have also initiated a regional captain’s network, which is expanding the grassroots network significantly and bringing in lots of new people. They have done considerable work delivering services online: though the e-institutes, the Online Live convening and training program, and the segmented communications network. For example, they provide online advocacy training programs, which they limit to small groups. Of course there is more to do. Online training has reduced travel costs for both the recipients and for the alliance, but it does not replace face-to-face interaction. They also have a Community Action Team program that brings consultants to local communities and are bumping up and expanding the 12-year-old rurals program.
• Donna Collins, Ohio Citizens for the Arts
  Ohio is currently in the budget process. The governor has proposed a 10 percent cut to the state arts agency. It is believed that the House will come out with a level-funding recommendation, which will move to the Senate. The week before Arts Day, Randy Cohen from Americans for the Arts is coming to Ohio to help with Creative Industries information dissemination to the media. April 6, 2005, is Arts Day in Ohio. Arts Day includes an advocacy briefing; six workshop sessions; a luncheon honoring the Ohio legislature; and a keynote address from Americans for the Arts’ President and CEO Bob Lynch, who will speak about Ohio's Creative Industries and the research conducted by Americans for the Arts. Each year, nearly 80 percent of state's legislators attend the Arts Day luncheon, with more than 1,000 people participating throughout the day, which also includes visits to legislators. Sixteen high schools from around the state will send representatives to advocate for arts education. The high schools also participate in school visits by legislators prior to Arts Day to acquaint students with their representatives to the House and Senate. The school visit provides the entire student body with an opportunity to hear legislators speak, after which the students may ask questions. There is a bonus to the legislators visiting the schools: they can see first hand the condition of the actual school building, the environment of the school; they can engage with students and educators; and they have a better idea of what the typical public high school looks like. On Arts Day, the high school students visit all 132 state legislators, delivering a packet of materials about the Ohio Arts Council, arts education needs, arts and arts education statistics, and a children's book. This year the students will provide a copy of Babar's Art Museum to each legislator, tying together literacy and the arts. The Ohio State University has a fairly young group of arts advocates—COSAA@OSU (Central Ohio Student Arts Advocates at The Ohio State University)—with 10 of them participating in National Arts Day and Ohio Arts Day.
• Jenny Hershour, Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania
  Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell has recommended a $14.5 million appropriation for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) grants to arts organizations. The PCA is the state agency. Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania (CFA/PA) is endorsing this recommendation. Additionally, on March 30, 2005, CFA/PA is asking arts advocates to contact their members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly by fax, e-mail, phone, or visit to the district office to support the Governor’s request.
  
  CFA/PA is also busy organizing Arts in Education at the State Capital. The event is slated for May 4, 2005, and will feature performances and displays of students from schools and nonprofit arts organizations. This event is co-sponsored annually with the Pennsylvania Speaker of the House’s office and the Pennsylvania Alliance for Arts Education.
• Betty Plumb, South Carolina Arts Alliance
  The South Carolina legislature is currently in session and is very active. They normally meet from January to June. Their big issues are the state arts agency budget (the House just recommended an increase of $245,000 to South Carolina Arts Commission's base budget), working against restructuring the state "cultural agencies" (our position is to keep the Arts Commission an independent agency), and passing an arts license plates legislation (it's progressing nicely). They are also working on three pieces of education legislation. In one bill, they are trying to protect arts curricula grants within the State Department of Education's budget from a restructuring of funding categories; getting the arts as an elective all career curricula clusters within a workforce readiness bill; and including dance/movement as an alternative/addition to a health and fitness bill that wants to increase the hours of physical education in addressing the growing problem of student obesity. Betty showed several new "Ms. Mona" (Mona Lisa in a hardhat) products, a "brand" which reflects the economic impact of the arts in South Carolina that they are using for fundraising. She also brought copies of their Arts Advocacy Handbook to share with SAAN members—let her know if you didn't get a copy and she will mail it to you—related to her successful Advocacy Day in February.
• Pat Boyd, South Dakotans for the Arts (SoDA)
  Their state arts budget remains unchanged at $540,000. Total grants of $960,000 generated $11.7 million in local funds. The state arts agency is now the Office of the Department of Tourism and State Development, and economic impact data is crucial to budget and other strategies. Partnerships with other state departments are often initiated by the other department, i.e., Social Services proposing what has become the Arts After School Program (ASAP). Social Services funds it, State Arts Agency artists-in-residence roster artists, and SoDA schedules and administers. This is very similar to the ArtsCorr program of artist’s residencies and staff in-service training for state juvenile corrections, now in its ninth year and completely funded by the DOC. State departments increasingly aware of arts office as resource.
  
  On the legislative front, their state legislature has already adjourned for the year. The legislature defeated a proposed repeal of state sales tax which could have reduced state funds for all programs, including arts; since the governor made it known he would not support any replacement tax program.
  
  Proposed new policy for art in state buildings and projects: SDAC will be notified by the State Engineer when an eligible (over $100,000) state building project has been authorized and plans are being developed. SDAC will create a task force to review the project and make recommendations. South Dakota’s policy on state projects will be to design and build public space that will be supportive and conducive to the display of art (by architectural feature, lighting, etc.). At least one major “showcase” project will be completed by 2010. The State of South Dakota will have a permanent collection of art by South Dakota Artists for the purpose of display in its public buildings, on either short or long-term loan through the Cultural Heritage Center.
  
  Community Arts Network has been strengthened by CANmail. Statewide Arts Conference in October, 2004, Follow-up 4 Regional Community Arts meetings in the Fall of 2005. CAN regions now match tourism, economic development. SDAAE regions now match Ed. Service Areas (7).
• Virginia Geier, Utah Cultural Alliance
  They are currently searching for new executive director. They have a new State Arts Agency director who is flying in for Arts Day in DC. Their legislative session ended on March 3, 2005. Their Arts Agency budget was flat-funded this year. There was an interesting bill passed that gives the tourism department a lot of new money. This is good news as this department has been under funded for years. Their new governor has a strong interest in economic development. He has restructured the state government and has created a new big department for arts and culture that includes all ethnic offices, Indian Affairs, the Arts Council(s), and Museums and Libraries. They are a fairly young organization focused on advocacy and trying to become more service focused.
• Andrea Stander, Vermont Arts Council
  Her organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary, which they are using to raise visibility for the arts throughout the state. They are a unique organization. They are the only state arts council that is a 501(c)(3) membership organization. By an act of the legislature they are designated to receive and disperse federal and state funds for the arts.
  
  In the fall of 2004, the Vermont Council on Rural Development published the report Advancing Vermont’s Creative Economy (available at www.vermontartscouncil.org). There were 17 recommendations, several of which are directly related to the arts. One recommendation is to increase funding for improving cultural facilities from $50,000 to $200,000. Members of the legislature are now holding a weekly rural economic development caucus. They are using the report as a guide for their deliberations. With the exception of the city of Burlington, all of Vermont is considered rural.
  
  FY 2006 funding for the Arts Council is proposed to be level after three years of small cuts. As part of its strategic planning process, the council will be hosting “state of the arts” forums with their local arts service organizations around the state this spring and early summer. On a sober note, a local arts council closed its doors after 31 years of operation with only a $15K deficit. The council is also focusing helping to develop models for integrating the arts into all areas of K–12 curriculum and standards.
• Trish Poupore, Virginians for the Arts (VFTA)
  Unlike many states, Virginia dealt with a budget surplus of around $1 billion during its legislative session. Transportation was a major focus of the session that ended February 26, 2005. The Virginia Commission for the Arts lost 42 percent of its budget in 2002–2003, and Virginians for the Arts' goal was to restore $1.675 million to bring the agency back to 2002 levels. Amendments were proposed, which were only successful to the level of the governor's proposed addition of $320,000. Their total increase in 2006 is just over $540,000, of which $220,000 represents a 2006 increase enacted as part of the 2004 budget compromise. VFTA co-sponsored, with the state arts agency, a conference with record-breaking attendance in January 2005. A legislative reception where children performed was well attended, as was their Arts Advocacy Day. VFTA, a 501(c)(4), has just split its assets with a new 501(c)(3), and long-range planning is a major focus going forward.
• Anne Katz, Arts Wisconsin
  In 2004, they received the Governor’s Award in Support of the Arts, which is given each year to outstanding individuals and nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin. The organization has a new name and new look, after a year’s planning process done in conjunction and partnership with the Wisconsin Arts Board. Their lieutenant governor is a very influential person, is the chair of the Arts Board, and is a strong arts supporter. She is a great advocate for them. They are pushing creative economy concept and creative industries data, and are trying to be as creative as possible to find more money and more supporters. They are trying to bring together Arts Board, Commerce, Tourism, Public Instruction (Education) departments around the creative industries concept. Governor, legislators, business people, and others are hearing their message, slowly but surely. They have developed an exciting new promotional campaign linking the arts and business—hoping to take it global!  www.goodforbusiness.com/newsletter/2005_archive/january.htm.
• Gretchen Johnston, Washington State Arts Alliance (WSAA)
  They are still having issues with their governor’s race, which ended up with the democrat winning by a mere 127 votes in the second recount. There is still a lawsuit pending. Consequently, the legislature got off to a very slow start, with only a few bills introduced in the first weeks of session. Washington State’s economy still is not doing well. The outgoing governor left a maintenance budget for state arts agency. They have yet to see a new budget from current governor. Basically, everyone is waiting for the March revenue forecasts before posting budgets. There is an estimate that there is a $24 billion shortfall in the state’s budget. Because of all the unknowns, nobody in the legislature really knows what is going on. WSAA is working on a bill to extend a dedicated portion of the lodging tax in King County for arts and heritage. Currently, the revenue stream is scheduled to end in 2020, and culture advocates were planning to go to the legislature in 2006 or 2007 to begin work on the extension. However, right before Christmas the newspapers reported that the Sonics basketball team was looking at that revenue to remodel the basket ball arena. Attempts are now being made to make the revenue available for both the sports arena and cultural funding. Extending the funds for arts and heritage has more support in the legislature than the sports stadium. Nothing may happen on this issue this session, but the conversation is now open.
4. Operating Procedures and Future SAAN Council Elections. Allen Hoffman, representing the SAAN Governance Committee, briefed the group on the upcoming SAAN Council elections that will take place in May/June. There will be 15 seats on the council that are up for either a one-, two-, or three-year term. The elections will take place via e-mail/web voting. To read more about the SAAN elections, please refer to the Operating Procedures.
5. The Arts Action Fund. Pat Williams, director, Citizen Membership, Arts Action Fund gave a brief overview of the new C4, the Arts Action Fund, inviting those present to join and to attend the Arts Action Fund reception on Monday evening.
   
   Suggestion:  At the Americans for the Arts conference in June, present an Arts Advocacy funding program.
6. Call for Ideas for Future SAAN Activities. Anne Katz, on behalf of the SAAN Programs Committee, asked the SAAN members for their suggestions and ideas on future professional development/ training conference calls and meetings.
   
   It was suggested that a listserv message be sent out with the current list of top-four ideas, giving the membership two weeks to comment. For a full list of the SAAN wish list, please refer to page 64 of the state report.
   
   Victoria Bourns of Utah suggested a better marketing campaign with the Arts & Business Council, which is now part of Americans for the Arts.
   
   Andrea Stander of Vermont suggested for a best practices. Get ideas on how to stop speaking to the choir, but how to get to those people who you don’t normally talk to or have never heard of your organization. Get ideas on how this has worked for others. For example, how do you get invited to and talk to the local rotary club. (Sheila Smith of Minnesota just did this.)
   
   Dan Hunter from Massachusetts asked if we can find more information on a museum that recently received major funding from the Ford Foundation for statistical analysis of economic development. Specifically, they are looking at turnover in nearby leases after the establishment of an arts organization.
7. Adjourn. Alene and Betty then thanked the group for their attendance and reminded them of the next SAAN meeting which will be in Austin, TX, in conjunction with the Americans for the Arts 2005 Annual Conference.