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policy and advocacy
Headlines of the Week
- 05-03-2004: World-renowned singer/songwriter Carole King performed at a Capitol Hill reception hosted by the Congressional Arts Caucus and Americans for the Arts. The event helped recruit new members to the caucus while providing a lively forum to discuss current legislative issues of interest to the arts community.
- 05-10-2004: The Philadelphia Inquirer published an Op-Ed piece by Americans for the Arts' President and CEO Robert L. Lynch which questions proposed cuts to the city's arts budget.
- 05-17-2004: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell welcomed Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch to the State Department in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Art in Embassies Program. We encourage you to send a message to Congress to support cultural exchange programs.
- 05-24-2004: Perhaps the most influential American diplomat of the post-war era and former U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, George F. Kennan's thoughts on the importance of international exchange in the arts resonate now more than ever. Read the speech he gave 49 years ago to the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
- 06-01-2004: More than 100 Members of Congress have cosponsored a bill that would allow a deduction equal to fair market value for charitable contributions of literary and artistic compositions created by the donor. Visit our Online Arts Advocacy Center to see if your Representative has signed the bill.
- 06-07-2004: The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a 2005 spending bill that includes none of the President's requested increase for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), choosing instead to keep funding at the 2004 level of just over $120 million.
- 06-14-2004: Members of the Congressional Arts Caucus will introduce an amendment this week to increase NEA funding by $10 million and NEH funding by $3.5 million in FY 2005. Learn more about the amendment by visiting our Online Arts Advocacy Center.
- 06-16-2004: The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to increase NEA funding by $10 million and NEH funding by $3.5 million. The amendment, which was introduced by Members of the Congressional Arts Caucus, passed by a vote of 241-185. Send a message to your Representative based on their vote to increase NEA funding.
- 07-06-2004: Americans for the Arts is pleased to publish our Creative Industries Study, which analyzes in detail the locations of arts-related businesses, institutions, and organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The study combines Dun & Bradstreet data (as of January 2004) and geo-economic analysis to map the presence of arts-related entities in six major creative industries.
- 07-12-2004: The FCC's "Do Not Fax" rule will go into effect in January 2005 unless Congress acts to modify it. The new rules would prohibit organizations from sending faxes advertising conferences, publications, and membership solicitations to anyone-- including members, donors, former book purchasers, or conference attendees - without their express written permission. Contact Congress and urge them to support compromise legislation.
- 07-19-2004: Arts Advocates from across the country convened in Washington, DC this week for Arts on the Hill Day to urge their Senators to support the arts. Arts on the Hill is a component of pARTicpate 2004, the second joint conference of Americans for the Arts and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. If you were unable to join us, write your Senators and urge them to support NEA Funding and Arts in Education programs.
- 07-26-2004: U.S. Secretary of Education Roderick Paige has sent a letter to all 16,000 public school superintendents affirming the place of the arts in every child's education. Paige's letter attempts to rebut increasingly frequent reports that schools are reducing arts instruction in order to concentrate on reading and math, which are the focus of the No Child Left Behind education law.
- 08-02-2004: Americans for the Arts and the Creative Coalition Sponsor a Roundtable Discussion Event at the Democratic National Convention.
- 08-09-2004: Americans for the Arts' President and CEO Robert L. Lynch this week sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) regarding the Finance Committee's proposed changes to the charitable sector.
- 08-16-2004: The United States may not be represented in the upcoming Venice Biennale, one of the most prestigious contemporary arts festivals in the world. Unlike past years, the N.E.A. has no private funding to review proposals for art exhibitions by United States artists; and the State Department, which is responsible for American representation at this and other international exhibitions, is reportedly in talks with the Guggenheim Museum about taking over operational responsibility.
- 08-30-2004: Americans for the Arts is undertaking a nationwide effort to ensure that people who care about the arts are registered, informed, and—most importantly—vote on November 2. Our Election Guide provides up-to-the-minute information on candidates running for federal and state offices and links to their campaign sites, and, most importantly, provides all the information you need to register to vote.
- 09-13-2004: The Senate will approve an increase of $5.4 million for the arts education program of the U.S. Department of Education, according to various unofficial sources. Under the Senate plan, the new funding level would be $40.5 million. Approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee is expected as early as this week. Although neither President Bush nor the House of Representatives recommended funding for the program, both acquiesced in the Senate's proposals each year since 2001, and it seems likely that they will do so again. Send a message to your Members of Congress, urging them to support funding for the program.
- 09-20-2004: The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on September 15 approved their version of the FY05 Interior Appropriations bill. The bill provided no increase for either the NEA or NEH; in other words, the Senate offered none of the President's requested increase for either agency, nor did they match the increases passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June. At some point, the House and Senate will work out a compromise between their different funding levels, which will likely accommodate some if not all of the House's increase for the NEA. Write your Senators and urge them to support increased NEA funding.
- 09-27-2004: Americans for the Arts is once again coordinating National Arts and Humanities Month, a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. From arts center open houses to mayoral proclamations to banners and newspaper articles, communities across the U.S. use this month to make sure their citizens pay attention to the cultural gems surrounding them. To learn more visit our Arts and Humanities Month homepage. You may also read President Bush's proclamation regarding National Arts and Humanities month.
- 10-04-2004: The Bloomington Area Arts Council has undertaken a unique art project designed to increase voter participation. "The Art of Voting" is comprised of 19 voting booth mock-ups designed by various Indiana artists. The project has garnered support from the Downtown Bloomington Commission, the Bloomington Area Arts Council, and numerous not-for-profit agencies that have adopted voting booths and are producing public art with their clients.
- 10-11-2004: On October 4, 2004, Americans for the Arts launched our Arts Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization which seeks to engage citizens in education and advocacy in support of the arts and arts education. The Art Action Fund's goal is to enlist and mobilize 100,000 citizen activists who will help ensure that arts-friendly public policies are adopted at the federal, state, and local levels, and public and private resources are maximized. Read our press release, and join us and show your support for the arts!
- 10-18-2004: As Americans for the Arts' expands its efforts at the State level, a state-by-state overview of the November 2004 Statewide Ballot Initiatives has been completed and is now available for review. Thirty-five states have at least one statewide ballot initiative this election. Of this number, 14 states have at least one initiative that could have an affect upon the arts for a total of 24 initiatives. While the majority of the initiatives are related to education funding, there are several that do have a direct arts connection. For more information, please contact Jay Dick, Director of State Arts Policy.
- Americans for the Arts Holds a Teleconference to Discuss the Election and its Impact on the Arts
10-25-2004: Americans for the Arts will be holding a teleconference on November 5 to discuss the election and its impact on the arts at the federal, state, and local levels. A unique combination of federal, state and local governments; private business; and the nonprofit sector provides an infrastructure for the arts that is critical to the economic vitality and cultural well being of the country and individual communities. The results of the upcoming November election present vital implications for the support of arts funding and policy at all levels of government. We encourage you to join us.
- Postelection Election Analysis and Impact on the Arts at the Federal, State, and Local Levels
11-05-2004: Americans for the Arts held a teleconference on November 5 to discuss the election and its impact on the arts at the federal, state, and local levels. A unique combination of federal, state and local governments; private business; and the nonprofit sector provides an infrastructure for the arts that is critical to the economic vitality and cultural well being of the country and individual communities. The results of the November election present vital implications for the support of arts funding and policy at all levels of government.
- State arts support makes modest gains; outcome of ballot initiatives positive.
11-08-2004: As a result of the November 2 elections, a subtle change has occurred on the state level, as positive gains were made in several state legislatures that now make them more arts friendly. Additionally, Americans for the Arts tracked 22 state ballot initiatives with arts or arts-related components. Eighteen of the initiatives passed, while four did not.
- Congress reconvenes this week to finalize FY 2005 appropriations
11-15-2004: Congress will meet in a post-election "lame duck" session this week to wrap up several loose ends before adjourning for the year. Among their tasks is the completion of the FY 2005 appropriations bills, which include funding for the NEA, NEH, and Arts in Education programs. We encourage you to send a message to your members of Congress, urging them to support increases for these vital programs.
- Congress Finalizes FY 2005 Funding; NEA, NEH Get Small Increases
11-22-2004: Congress passed an FY 2005 funding bill that put a cap on all non-defense spending, resulting in the reduction or elimination of several programs. The National Endowment for the Arts, however, received an increase of just over $1 million for FY 2005, and NEH funding was increased by $3.5 million. To learn more, visit our E-Advocacy Center.
- President Recognizes Leaders in the Arts
11-29-2004: President George W. Bush announced the recipients of the 2004 National Medal of Arts. The President presented eight medals which represent the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence to select arts leaders. Additionally, three new members of the National Council on the Arts nominated by President Bush, were confirmed by the United States Senate in late November. The National Council on the Arts serves as the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
- NEA Awards More Than $2 Million in Grants
12-15-2004: The National Endowment for the Arts announced earlier this month a list of grants awarded under the "Access to Artistic Excellence" category. Fifteen of the awardees were Local Arts Agencies receiving $443,000 in grants. Additionally, the NEA awarded more than $1.7 million in 171 grants through the Challenge America Fast-Track Review Grants program of which $160,000 went to 16 local arts agencies. Those awards support projects that provide opportunities for people to experience and participate in a wide range of art forms and enable arts organizations to expand their audiences. Many of the projects extend the arts to underserved populations whose access to the arts is limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
- Americans For The Arts Rounds Out Its Roster Of State Arts Advocacy Captains
12-20-2004: Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce that we now have State Arts Advocacy Captains in all 50 states. State Arts Advocacy Captains are selected to help promote federal arts issues on a statewide level while also helping keep Americans for the Arts' Government and Public Affairs staff aware of any pending issues at the state level. State Captains have been integral to many of our legislative successes, including the passage of amendments to increase NEA funding in 2003 and 2004. In addition, State Captains lead their state arts delegation's visits to Capitol Hill on Arts Advocacy Day to urge Congress to support arts-friendly legislation and policies.
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