JANUARY 11, 2012: HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 12 HAVE BEEN POSTPONED!
The Speaker of the NH House, William O’Brian, has postponed all House Committee hearings for Thursday, January 12, due to the impending snow and ice storm.
As of this evening, we have learned that the hearings for HB 1274 (to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources) and HB 1285 (to repeal the State Art fund) are likely to be rescheduled for Friday afternoon, January 20. (The date currently posted in the House Calendar, Monday, January 23rd, may be incorrect.)
As soon as we have confirmation of new hearing times, we will send out a new notice. We hope you will join us!
Thank you to the many people who have already submitted letters to their Representatives and to those who were planning to attend and to testify at the hearings tomorrow. We are confident that we can make a strong case before the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee in opposition to both Bills. A good turnout of arts supporters will be important!
Further information about these Bills is repeated below. Please continue to contact your Legislators in opposition to the misguided legislation.
The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee (ED&A) will meet [DATE TO BE CONFIRMED], 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 each of the hearings.
1. [DATE TO BE CONFIRMED], Legislative Office Building 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. [DATE TO BE CONFIRMED], 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 one or both of the hearings, where you will be able to sign up in opposition to the bills. NHCFA is currently recruiting 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 72 hours, email a short message in opposition to the bills. Email the whole committee via the Committee Chair Carol McGuire at www.carol@mcguire4house.com, with “For the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee” in the Subject Line. (It’s best to paste this address into your email.) 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 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 eliminate 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 moved beyond a committee hearing. Although the committee does not have to allow more than 15 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 each of the 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.
