Senate Budget Hearings should be mid-to-late-April. Dates and locations will be posted as available.
WHERE WE ARE NOW:
The Governor’s Office and the Legislature are working on budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2011, which begins on July 1, in order to balance the budget.(Cuts already made to the current FY budget have been absorbed across state government.)
The House tabled its budget bill, HB1664, which would have eliminated all Arts Council Grants and the NH Film Office.HB 1664 could be revived, or it could be picked up by the Conference Committee in late May.
The Governor should announce his budget cuts between April 8 and 12. When he does, we will post numbers and alert you to our position. We expect that that the Governor’s budget will be better for the Arts than the House’s tabled version.
The Senate Finance Committee is now working on its revised budget.We have no figures yet.It is time to contact Senate Finance Committee members and to talk to your own Senator (see lists below). At this time, our message is the value of the Arts (see Talking Points below).
Senate Finance Committee Budget Hearings are expected in mid-late April. We will needvolunteers to appear and speak up at hearings, and we will alert you of times and locations and how to testify.
An amended budget must be passed in both Houses by June 2, 2010.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
-Contact your State Senator and let him or her know that you value the arts (see Senate Roster below), the State’s support of the arts, and the work of the State Arts Council.Offer personal and local stories about the vital importance of the arts in creating jobs, stimulating the state and local economy, and enhancing revenues.
-You may want to express your appreciation for their difficult work and acknowledge that that some cuts across State government are necessary.However, argue for fair and reasonable cuts for the Arts Council, not cuts that eliminate all funding.
-Briefly, tell your own story about how the Arts Council has helped you, your business and your community.(Talking Points are below.) -The most effective contacts are personal:phone calls, meetings, and original letters or postcards.Next best are personalized emails.Avoid form letters or emails.
-Please share this Alert with other arts supporters, especially business and community leaders and Board members of organizations that you may be involved with.
THE POSITION OF THE NH CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS ON REVENUES:
NH Citizens for the Arts has not taken a stand on the very political and difficult issues of particular revenue sources—whether taxes, fees, or other initiatives. However, if an “Entertainment” or “Ticket” tax were proposed, NHCFA would oppose it, especially if it includes a tax on NONPROFIT theater and museum tickets.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the arts in New Hampshire!From the Board of Directors of NH Citizens for the Arts (NHCFA)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS:
Advocate for State Funding of the Arts for THE STATE ARTS COUNCIL (known in the budget as The Division of the Arts), and THE FILM AND TV OFFICE(both within the Department of Cultural Resources).
We recognize budget cuts are necessary in all departments to balance the state budget.
We ask politely that any cuts be reasonable and fair.
The economy and jobs should be considered:The arts are economic engines and create jobs.
Both the Arts Council and the Film Office bring money into the State, through matching funds and private investment and support.
Include personal stories about how the arts affect your life:
The arts stimulate and drive the economies of our towns and cities.Jobs, livelihoods, and healthy communities are at stake.
Arts programs and institutions are essential to vibrant downtowns and rural towns.They bring money into the state by attracting tourism and business, and stimulate the hospitality industry.
Arts programs in our schools, supported by the State Arts Council, lead to jobs and help young people learn and enhance their success in other subjects.
Describe how you, or your organization or school, count on Arts Council programs or grants.Talk about how loss of arts programs will affect your community and region and its economy.What jobs would be lost?
Contributions to organizations are down.The State’s “seal of approval” through modest grants leverages matching private funds.If the State makes a statement against the arts, it will hurt fundraising efforts at a very tough time. It is counterproductive to cut the arts now, when cultural organizations are hanging on by their fingertips.
People need the arts more than ever in hard times.
PLEASE ACT NOW.CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR.Be brief and polite.Remember that they are working hard to balance the State budget.
SENATE ROSTER (* indicates members of the Senate Finance Committee)
District
Name and Address
Contact Information
01
John Gallus*
292 Prospect Street
Berlin, NH 03570-2137
(H) (603)752-1066
(O) (603)271-3077
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Until the election, candidates will travel
through your district to meet voters and hear issues, presenting an opportunity
for the arts!
Sign up today to get notices and calls!
You will be invited to free events, many with free food! You can “unsubscribe” at any time.
GET INVITED: To get emails or calls inviting you to campaign events, such as
house parties, in your town: Give your email and/or phone number to candidates’ campaigns, or to one
Party or both Parties.Here are their
websites – to their “volunteer” or “get involved” pages (if you won’t be active
– just choose “other” for your “volunteer” task or leave all boxes blank).
Democratic: http://www.nhdp.org/free_details.asp?id=130
(e-news sign up on home page to left)
Partial events listing (but few candidate events): http://www.nhdp.org/calendar.asp
Phone: (603) 225-6899.Email:
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NH STATE RACES – all Senators and Reps
are up for (re)election: To
get on a list, email the legislator and simply ask (few have campaign websites).
NH Legislative Leadership – “Statewide” candidates worth our focus:
Minority leadership (R) (challengers): Republican Leader, Peter
Bragdon, (R), Milford
Deputy Minority Leader, Bob Odell,
(R), Lempster
Deputy Minority Leader, Michael
Downing, R), Salem
House: Speaker of House Terie Norelli (D): Phone:
(603)436-2108, Email:
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(Portsmouth) Finance Chairman,
Marjorie Smith, Phone: 271-3165 (D), retiring Nov 30, 2010 (Durham) Finance
Chairman, Division I, Peter
Leishman, (D), Phone: 271-3165 (Peterborough)
Republican Leader, Sherman A. Packard, Phone:
(603)432-3391, Email:
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(Londonderry) Deputy Republican Leader, David W. Hess,
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(Hooksett)
Republican Whip, Shawn N. Jasper,
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
,
(Hudson)
US Congressional Races: District 1:Open seat (incumbent Paul Hodes (D) vacated seat
to run for Senate).
Links to all (R) candidates: http://www.nhgop.org/pages/detail/17
(scroll down to District 1)
List of all R candidates (find websites via link above):
Richard Ashooh, Peter J. Bearse, Bob Bestani, Frank C. Guinta, Andrew P.
Kohlhofer, Sean Mahoney, Richard Charles Parent, and Kevin Rondeau
Links to (D) candidates:
Ann McLane Kuster: http://www.kusterforcongress.com/
(sign up in pop-up window) Ph: 603-230-2415.Email:
info@ kusterforcongress.com Katrina Swett: http://www.swettforcongress.com/volunteer Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.Concord 603.774.2010, Nashua 603.718.8578.
District 2 Incumbent Carol Shea-Porter (D): http://sheaporter.com/
(sign up on homepage)
Challengers (R) – Links to ALL (R): http://www.nhgop.org/pages/detail/17
(scroll down to District 2)
List of all R candidates (find websites via link above):
Charles Bass, Robert J. Giuda, Jennifer Horn, Joseph G. Reilly, Wesley M. Sonner,
Jr.
NH VOTER INFORMATION
NH Primary Election
is Tues, September 14, 2010
NH Election is Tues, November 2, 2010 HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE, go to: http://www.sos.nh.gov/vote.htm(Secretary of State’s office)
ABSENTEE BALLOTS- Requests for Absentee ballots are available from your town or city clerk*
approximately 30 days prior to an election. Request the absentee ballot application
from the clerk or you may download
the application; or, if you wish, you may submit a request in writing which
should include all the information that is required on the application. Don't
forget your name, voting address, mailing address and your signature. An application for an absentee ballot may be transmitted by facsimile
to a town or city clerk.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS- Return of Clerks may accept completed absentee ballots submitted in person until
5:00 p.m. the day before an election or until 5:00 p.m. on Election Day if
received through the mail. An absentee ballot may NOT be transmitted by facsimile to a town or city
clerk
If you have the opportunity to attend a candidates forum, make sure to ask the candidates their position on public funding for the arts. Below are some questions to get you started.
1. Are you willing to help leverage additional federal and
private funds to support the arts through the state’s investment in the
NH State Council for the Arts(NHCSA) ?
2. Will you support maintaining or increasing grants funds
for the NHSCA to distribute to NH’s non-profit arts organizations across the
state?
3. Will you prioritize strengthening arts in education programs
in your plan for education reform?
4. Will you support creative economy initiatives at the state
and local levels?
As we
advocate for public funding, it is tempting to overlook the intrinsic benefits
of the arts — those effects inherent in the arts experience itself that nourish
the souls of individuals and communities. Individuals participate in the
arts for pleasure, stimulation, and meaning.Wynton Marsalis reminds us “[Our] songs, dances, writings allow us to
speak to one another across generations. They gave us an understanding of our
commonality long before the DNA told us we are part of one glorious procession.
At any point on the timeline of human history, there are tales to be told- of love
and loss, glory and shame, profundity and even profound stupidity, tales that
deserve retelling, embellishing, and if need be, inventing from whole cloth.
This is our story. This is our song. If well sung, it tells us who we are and
where we belong.”
In addition to the personal and communal nourishment the arts
provide here in New Hampshire,
they are an important part of the economic energy and social capital of the
State. They contribute to economic productivity, educational success and
the well-being and vitality of our towns and cities. Both public and
private sector investment have an important role to play in the State’s
creative life. Here are some suggested
talking points in making the case in this current economic and political
climate:
1) The arts are fundamental to a robust economy.
·They
generate jobs, tax revenue and consumer spending.
According to Dun & Bradstreet, as of January 2010, New Hampshire is home to 3,424 arts-related
businesses that employ 11,254 people. These businesses play an important
role in building and sustaining economic vibrancy and are a cornerstone of
tourism and economic development. They employ people who spend money locally,
generating government revenue. For
example in my (town or city), (blank) ……………
·They draw new dollars into the
state economy through tourism and the export of unique cultural goods.
According to the NH Division of Travel and Tourism, visitors are drawn to NH to enjoy
historic sites and cultural events in addition to its scenery and recreational
activities. Quality cultural goods and services come from a strong arts sector that
enhances the New Hampshire
brand. Individual artists and artisans represent a significant part of New Hampshire’s robust
entrepreneurial businesses in all regions of the State. For example in my (town or city)…………….
·
They
contribute to downtown and neighborhood revitalization. A
thriving arts sector creates a high quality of life, which is beneficial in
attracting and retaining businesses and workers and ensuring a healthy tax base
for the state over the long term. For example in my (town or city)…………………
2)The arts help children learn and
prepare for the future.
·The arts
enhance academic achievement and educational attainment. Studies
show that students with an education rich in the arts have a better grade point
average, score better on standardized tests in reading and math and have lower
dropout rates, findings that cut across all socio-economic categories. Arts education is under threat in my (town
or city)………….
·The arts
foster the innovation, problem-solving and communications skills
necessary to succeed in the 21st Century. A recent IBM Poll of 1500
CEOs found creativity to be the number one leadership competency of the future.
An investment in arts education in my
(town or city would mean…………….
3) The arts are a vital component for healthy towns and cities
·The arts inspire, soothe and connect us and
embody the accumulate wisdom, intellect, and imagination of humankind. Participating
in the artsstrengthens our ties
with others and deepens our relationship with one another through shared
cultural experiences.In my home town/city ……..
·The arts
provide creative solutions to complex social, economic and civic problems. The arts
contribute to community resiliency, and help towns and cities find creative
solutions to complex problems. In my
home town/city we are……..
·The arts
are a tool for economic and community development. City
planners, property developers and economists are increasingly recognizing the
arts as an effective anchor for development and revitalization.In my
home town/city there is……
4) The arts are a wise investment of
public funding
Leverage additional dollars: On average, NHSCA grants are matched by
private dollars 5 to 1.
Provide
equitable access to resources:NHSCA grants provide
opportunities for arts participation by many underserved communities.
Foster
good business practices:Recipients of NH State Council
on the Arts funding are required to demonstrate exemplary management and
planning practices, which promote sustainable growth of arts enterprises.
Provide
strategic leadership: Funding for local projects
provides seed money at critical times for innovative ideas to take root.
Information
Resources:NHSCA serves central hub for
information exchange not available in the private sector.
June 12, 2010: The
adjustments to the FY 2010 and FY 2011 budget signed by Governor Lynch
last week leaves the NH Film and TV Office intact and only includes a
$45,000 cut to the State Arts Council. These cuts are significant but
manageable in these challenging economic times.
Being in touch with our legislators is important. If you
contacted your legislators in reference to arts funding, please thank
them now for their hard work. Please also thank Representative
Marjorie Smith and Senator Sylvia Larsen for their steadfast support of
the arts.
Save the Date: June 24, 10-11:30 am: Michael Kaiser speaks at the
Capitol Center for the Arts on the Kennedy Center's nationwide
initiative to help arts organizations tackle financial crisis and
management. Tickets are free but registration required. Reserve seats for Michael Kaiser. Sponsored by Capitol Center for the Arts, Arts Presenters of Northern New England (APNNE) and the NH Department of Cultural Resources.
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