JANUARY 12, 2012: ARTS ADVOCACY UPDATE — ARTS HEARINGS ARE RESCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 20!
It is now confirmed that the hearings for HB 1274 (to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources) and HB 1285 (to repeal the State Art Fund) have been rescheduled for Friday afternoon, January 20. The hearing for HB 1274 will be at 1:15 pm, and for HB 1285 at 2:00 pm. Both hearings are in Room 306 of the Legislative Office Building.
This new schedule is an advantage for us since it makes it easier for people to stay through both hearings. We encourage you to arrive for the first hearing by 12:45. We will have people outside the committee room to sign you in and to identify those who are planning to speak!
Thank you to the many people who have already submitted letters to their Representatives and to those who have already planned to attend and to testify at the hearings. We urge you to join us again on the 20th! We are confident that we can make a strong case before the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee in opposition to these Bills. A good turnout of arts supporters will make a difference!
More about these Bills follow and further information is available at Talking Points. Please continue to contact your Legislators in opposition to the misguided legislation.
URGENT ADVOCACY ALERT!!
The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee (ED&A) will meet on Friday, January 20, to consider two bills that either drastically reduce or eliminate state funding for the arts. Please help us defeat this bills in committee by 1) writing your own representative (particularly if he/she is a member of the ED&A Committee), and 2) planning to attend the hearings. Our goal is to have at least 100 people at the hearings!
1. Friday, January 20, 1:15 pm, LOB Room 306. Hearing for HB 1274: A bill to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources (introduced by Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, Hillsborough 15). This bill would eliminate the office of the Commissioner and the State Arts Council (Division of the Arts), and move the Division of Historical Resources and the State Library to the NH Dept. of State, and the Film and TV Office to the NH Dept. of Resources and Economic Development.
2. Friday, January 20, 2:00 pm, LOB Room 306. Hearing for HB 1285: A bill to repeal the State Art Fund (introduced by Rep. Dan McGuire, Merrimack 8). The State Art Fund, also called the Percent for Art Program, allocates 1/2 of 1% of a state-owned building project budget for artwork to enhance the finished building.
ACTION NEEDED TODAY!
1. Plan to attend both of the hearings, where you will be able to sign up in opposition to the bills. NHCFA has recruited people individually to give testimony at the hearings, but you are welcome to bring written testimony to turn in (20 copies).
2. In the next 48 hours, email a short message in opposition to the bills. Email the Committee via the Chairman Carol McGuire at www.carolmcguire4house.com, with “For the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee” in the Subject Line. It is particularly important to contact a committee member individually if you are from their legislative district. A list of the Committee members, with contact information, is posted on this web site at NH State Government.
3. If your rep is not on the Ed&A Committee, please write directly to your own representatives to urge them to oppose these Bills if they come up for a vote before the entire House. To find individual NH State Representatives, click here. Urge them 1) not to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources and eliminate the Arts Council; and 2) not to repeal the State Art Fund (Percent for Art Program).
Note about the committee process: These committee hearings are the first step in what could be a months-long process. We need to show broad opposition to these bills early in the game so they do not move beyond a committee hearing. Although the committee does not have to allow more than 15-30 minutes for testimony, they may let more people testify if we’ve got a large show of support. In any case, the committee will definitely take note if there are many people present at the hearing in opposition to the bills. Help us reach our goal of at least 100 people at these two hearings!
If these bills pass out of committee with a recommendation for additional hearings later in the session, we will call on you again to come to Concord and speak with a solid arts voice for public funding for the arts in NH.
Thank you for your extraordinary efforts to save the State Arts Council (Division of the Arts)!
We will continue to update this web site and our Arts Alerts for information pertaining to the hearings, so please check back.
It is particularly important to contact a committee member individually if you are from their legislative district.
