Arts Advocacy Alerts

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1:00 – 2:00 pm.  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON HB1274 AND HB1285, Room 210-211 of the Legislative Office Building.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Contact your Representatives! If your Representative sits on the House Finance Committee, contact him or her, preferably by phone, before Tuesday and let him or her know your position on these bills. Then please let us know, at Contact NHCFA, how your Representative responded. See a list of Finance Committee members below.

2. Attend the hearings!   HB1274 will be heard at 1 pm, immediately followed at 1:30 pm by HB1285. We have several key speakers chosen for each bill, but feel free to turn in written testimony. We believe that the Committee will be more favorable to our position if we do not inundate them with oral testimony, but having a significant turn-out is very important!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

HB1274: Our position: Ought to Pass.

This bill emerged from the House ED&A Committee stripped of its original language to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources and amended to make the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center a private operation. The Committee voted 15-0 “ought to pass,” and it passed as amended on the House Floor. The bill moves to the Finance Committee with a new fiscal note. However, the bill’s original sponsor, Steve Vaillancourt, who sits on the Finance Committee, may ask that bill be re-amended to put back the original language. Our hope is that because the ED&A Committee voted unanimously on the policy aspect of the original bill, Finance will not want to go back to the original language.

HB1285: Our position: Ought to Fail.

This bill is vulnerable. The ED&A Committee voted 8-7 that the bill ought to pass, which would eliminate the State Art Fund (Percent for Art Program). We believe that the State Art Fund gives the state an efficient and equitable process for commissioning meaningful artwork for state buildings, and sets up a rigorous and effective process for selecting the artwork that includes citizen input.   (For more information, go to Talking Points and click on the pdf  FAQs-The State Art Fund at the top of the page.)

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FINANCE COMMITTEE?

Both these bills will go back for a full House Floor vote. If a bill passes the House, it will go on to the Senate at the end of March. Once in the Senate, there will be one or more Senate Committee hearings and full Senate vote. Stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone for all the work done this far. We’ve been effective in reaching legislators and explaining the importance of the Department of Cultural Resources and the State Art Fund and WE CAN WIN! We’ve seen a clear indication that legislators listen to economic arguments and to the voices of their constituents.

Contact information for each legislator, including phone numbers and email, is available through the NH government web site at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/memberslookup.aspx.

It is particularly effective to contact reps by phone if you are from their legislative district!

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE ROSTER

Kenneth Weyler, Chair (r), Kingston

Lynne Ober, Vice-Chair (r), Hudson

Karen Umberger (r), Kearsarge

Neal Kurk (r), Weare

Larry Emerton (r), Goffstown

Beverly Rodeschin (r), Newport

William Belvin (r), Amherst

Robert Elliott (r), Salem

Steve Vaillancourt (r), Manchester

Mary Allen (r), Newton

Marilinda Garcia (r), Salem

Richard Barry (r), Merrimack

John Cebrowski (r), Bedford

William Smith (r), New Castle

Charles Sova (r), Orange

Thomas Keane (r), Bow

Dan McGuire (r), Epsom

Paul Simard (r), Bristol

Timothy Twombly (r), Nashua

Colette Worsman (r), Meredith

Sharon Nordgren (d), Hanover

Benjamin Baroody (d), Manchester

Bernard Benn (d), Hanover

Robert Foose (d), New London

Alfred Lerandeau (d), Keene

Cindy Rosenwald (d), Nashua

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Here is the update on Wednesday’s vote on the two arts bills on the House Floor:

HB1274 (as amended, to make the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center a private entity): ought to pass, voice vote.

The bill now goes to the House Finance Committee. We expect the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, will request that the original language of the bill, to eliminate the Department of Cultural Resources, should be re-introduced.

HB1285 (to eliminate the State Art Fund, aka the Percent for Art Program): ought to pass, 214 – 108.

This bill also goes to House Finance. Both Rep. Spec Bowers and Rep. Dan Carol McGuire of the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee, which originally heard testimony on HB1285, spoke for passing the bill,  Rep. Randall Whitehead (R, Nashua, Ward 5), also an ED&A Committee member, spoke on why it should not pass.

ACTION SUGGESTED:  Nashua constituents of Rep. Whitehead  should write or email him to thank him for his support of the State Art Fund.  (Mailing address: 20 Palisade Drive, Nashua 03062; email: randall.whitehead@leg.state.nh.us.)

WHAT’S NEXT: Once the bills are scheduled for a Finance Committee hearing, we will send out an update. It is not clear whether the hearing will take public testimony or be an executive session.

A LONG SEASON:

The Legislative season is only just underway. Once the bills finish up in the House Finance Committee, they will come back to the House floor for a final vote. At the end of March, all House bills will cross over to the Senate and will get hearings in the appropriate Senate Committees. Once through the Senate Committees, the bills will go before the full Senate for a vote.  Any discrepancies in the bills between the House versions and the Senate versions will eventually be worked out in a Conference Committee at the end of the Legislative Session.

Stay with us through June — these bills will  be alive until then.  And each step of the way, each contact we make with legislators, we build awareness and support for the arts!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

HB1274 and HB1285 are moving rapidly through the legislative process.  Both bills will come up for a vote on the House floor this Wednesday, February 1.  Contact your Representatives to urge passage of HB1274 as amended and to oppose HB1285.

HB1274:

House ED&A Committee Report:  Ought to Pass as Amended, 15-0.

NHCFA position:  YES, Ought to Pass as Amended. In Executive Session, the ED&A Committee stripped HB1274 of its original language abolishing the Department of Cultural Resources (DCR), and replaced the bill with language to change the funding structure of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (approved by the Discovery Center).

What Might Happen on the Floor:

Because the ED&A Committee voted unanimously to strip all language in relation to abolishing the DCR, we feel there is a chance this bill will go through as amended and supported by the Committee.  However, it would still be helpful for all of us to email our Representatives to make sure they understand that the bill should be passed AS IS, and as recommended by the committee, and that they should not support any motion from the floor to re-insert the bill’s original language.

HB1285:

House ED&A Committee Report:  Ought to Pass, 8-7.

NHCFA Position:  NO, we oppose this bill.

What Might Happen on the Floor:

This bill repeals the State Art Fund, also known as the Percent for Art program.  The ED&A Committee voted “Ought to Pass” in its report, 8-7.  The bill will likely pass the House unless we all speak up and better explain the Percent for Art program to our Representatives. Though the Committee vote was extremely close, there is still not a clear understanding among legislators of the benefits of a dedicated fund for appropriating artwork for state buildings, or of how this program works.

TAKE ACTION!

1.  Call or email your Representatives and urge them a) to pass HB1274 as amended, with no re-introduction of the original language; and b) to oppose HB1285.

2.  Give details of why HB1285 ought NOT to pass by including an explanation of why the State Art Fund (Percent for Art program) is good for New Hampshire.  (Find more under Talking Points.)

3.  Link to the State’s website for legislative addresses.  You can also locate who your representatives are here: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/wml.aspx.  Once you’ve located your Rep., email your letter to him or her.

4.  Link to more information on the Percent for Art program is here: http://www.nh.gov/nharts/programservices/percentforart.htm.

5.  To stay abreast of legislative activity related to the arts, visit the NH  State Council on the Arts webpage: http://www.nh.gov/nharts/aboutus/2012nhlegupdates_arts.html

OTHER LEGISLATION

HB1669:

The House Finance Committee met on January 26 and heard lots of testimony in opposition to HB1669, a bill “requiring the deposit of dedicated fun revenues into the general fund the the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years and requiring non-constitutionally establish dedicated funds to be eliminated on June 30, 2015 unless reinstated by the legislature.”  Only the bill’s sponsors spoke in favor.  Among those speaking in opposition were several state Commissioners, the State Treasurer, and Rep. Weyler, Chair of the House Finance Committee.

This bill would effectively eliminate the State Art Fund (HB1285, above) and the cultural conservation grant program (funded through Moose Plates).  We will keep you updated on what happens to the bill and what impact it could have on arts dollars.

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On Friday, January 20, members of the House Executive Departments and Administration (ED&A) Committee heard testimony from a range of people opposed to HB 1274 (to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources) and HB 1285 (to repeal the State Art Fund–Percent for Art Program).  There was standing room only in the committee room, with at least 100 people attending and dozens of people speaking against the bills; excellent testimony was presented from the business community, artists and arts professionals, librarians, historians, students and engaged citizens. The committee chair, Representative Carol McGuire, graciously allowed all the testimony to be heard, greatly extending the time alloted for each hearing.

HIGHLIGHTS

HB 1274: Everyone who testified opposed  HB 1274 except the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Steve Vaillancourt.  Testimony was given from representatives of the Nashua, Dover, Manchester, Rochester and greater Concord Chambers of Commerce.  Other business leaders spoke about the important economic impact of cultural dollars to cities including Portsmouth, Concord and Nashua, and the role that the Department of Cultural Resources plays in efficiently preserving New Hampshire’s cultural heritage and promoting its cultural resources.

Artists who make a living through their art as sole-proprietor businesses spoke eloquently about the role of the NH State Council on the Arts in providing an infrastructure for entrepreneurial training and residency programs statewide and for its small grant programs.  Students from the Bishop Brady High School in Concord championed the Poetry Out Loud (POL) program, in which nearly 10,000 NH high school students participated last year.  POL is a program administered by the NH State Council on the Arts with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.  The State Arts Council and all of its NEA funding would be eliminated through HB 1274.

HB1285: Thoughtful testimony addressed the sponsor’s concern that dedicated funds are a poor funding mechanism for state government.  Testimony was presented that countered the argument that art for state buildings should be a line-item in an appropriation budget, instead of  funded through the State’s capital budget. The current legislation establishing the State Art Fund (Percent for Art program), ensures that artwork to enhance state building projects is carefully conceived and selected through a Site Selection process that includes the building’s users, planners, and members of the public.  Funds are also provided for conservation and preservation of the artwork in later years.

WHAT’S NEXT:

The ED&A Committee will meeting in Executive Session this Wednesday, January 25, at 12:30 in LOB 306 to discuss both bills. The session is open to the public, but no public testimony is allowed.   The Committee uses this time to discuss each bill and decide whether to pass it (in which case it would be sent on to the House Finance Committee), to recommend that it go to study (with a sub-committee appointed to further investigate the ramifications of the bill), or vote it Inexpedient to Legislate.

As soon as we learn how the Committee votes on the bills, we will update the web site and send out an email Alert.  If either bill goes forward, we will continue to contact House representatives so if the bills reach the House floor for a full vote, they will not pass.

We were very successful in the first round of opposing this destructive legislation!  The arts and business community rallied to show strong support for keeping the Department of Cultural Resources intact and for preserving the small, dedicated fun for public art in state buildings.  Thank you to everyone who reached out to arts advocates, teachers, students and business professionals, to everyone who submitted testimony, and to everyone who attending the hearings!

On Friday, January 20, members of the House Executive Departments and Administration (EDWe were very successful in the first round of opposing this destructive legislation!  The arts and business community rallied to show strong support for keeping the Department of Cultural Resources intact and for preserving the small, dedicated fun for public art in state buildings.  Thank you to everyone who reached out to arts advocates, teachers, students and business professionals, to everyone who submitted testimony, and to everyone who attending the hearings!

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.

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.

JOIN US FOR THE THIRD ARTS ADVOCACY SUMMIT,  THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21.

Please join us for the 3rd Arts Advocacy Summit, from 8:30 to noon at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord.    NOTE THAT THE STARTING TIME HAS BEEN MOVED FROM 8:00 AM TO 8:30 AM TO GIVE ATTENDEES MORE TIME TO TRAVEL.

Meet nationally-known speaker and advocate Jonathan Katz, Executive Director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in Washington DC, and brainstorm with other New Hampshire arts advocates on ways to harness our networks and resources more effectively to affect decision-making on arts policy and public funding for the arts in New Hampshire!

Click here to register now!

AGENDA

8:30:  Registration and Breakfast Buffet; Networking

9:00:  Welcome and Goals of the Meeting.  Overview of new legislative threats to the Dept. of Cultural Resources, the State Arts Council, and the Percent for Arts Program.

9:30:  Keynote Address:  Jonathan Katz will speak on “How to Talk About the Arts in Tough timnes,” and share specific information on principles and strategies of arts advocacy in New Hampshire.  Q & A.

10:00:  Table Session #1:  Stand Up and Be Counted:  The Elevator Speech.

10:45:  Break

11:00:  Table Session #2:  How to Reach Key Decision-Makers:  1)  Coordinating Statewide Groups; 2) Being in Touch with Legislators and Policymakers.

11:45:  Summary and Final Charge

Noon to 12:20 pm:  NH Citizens for the Arts’ Annual Meeting:  NHCFA membership will vote on new board members and ratify minor Bylaw changes.

Register here for the Summit!

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON MONDAY!

A CAPPELLA CONCERT/COMPETITION, FRIDAY, OCT. 14!

UNH Manchester’s a cappella group, Milling Around, hosts its 2nd Annual a cappella competition and concert, Voices of the (603), tonight, October 14, at 6:30 pm at the Currier Museum of Art, Manchester. Twelve high school and college groups will compete.  The concert includes a 30-minute intermission when guests may view exhibitions throughout the Museum.   Tickets are $10.  All proceeds from the concert will go to support NH Citizens for the Arts! Learn more.

JOIN US FOR OUR 3RD ARTS ADVOCACY SUMMIT!

November 21, 2011 — 8:00 am – Noon — Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord

Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Katz, Executive Director, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Washington, DC.  Katz, a compelling and energizing speaker, will share specific information on principles and strategies of arts advocacy.

Breakout Sessions:

1.  Immediate Action: Stand Up and Be Counted!

Discussion will focus on new threats to the arts in New Hampshire, and what we can do to respond.  (Table interest groups will include: The Creative Economy, Arts-in-Education, NH’s Percent for Art Programs, and other topics.)

2.  Looking Ahead: Strengthening Advocacy/Building Relationships

Discussion will include: Working on Networking; Expanding Your Influence; Who Do We Have to Move?  (Table interest groups will be focused regionally.)

NHCFA Annual Meeting: The Summit will be immediately followed by a brief Annual Meeting for the NH Citizens for the Arts membership to vote on new board members.

Register for the Summit Here!

IN THE NEWS: PAUL HODES APPOINTED TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

Earlier this week, President Obama announced his intent to appoint former Congressman Paul Hodes to the National Council on the Arts, which oversees the National Endowment for the Arts.

Paul Hodes represented NH’s 2nd Congressional district from 2007-2011.  He is a trial and entertainment lawyer,  a musician, and an active member of the NH arts community.  He served on the NH State Council on the Arts, as  Board Chair of the Capitol Center for the Arts and Tricinium Ltd., and on the board of the Concord Community Music School.  He and his wife Peggo won two Parent’s Choice awards with their band, Peggosus.  Mr. Hodes has also worked professionally as an actor, producer, director and playwright.  He graduated from Dartmouth College and Boston College Law School, with additional training at the National Theatre Institute and the Herbert Berghoff and Uta Hagen Studio.

PLEASE JOIN US AND STRENGTHEN OUR ADVOCACY WORK WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

NH Citizens for the Arts is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the arts and public funding for the arts in New Hampshire.  This year, NHCFA will spend over $7000 on direct arts advocacy activities.  Here’s how we used that money:

– Built a new web site so that arts supporters could have a place to go for arts advocacy information and timely coverage of the legislative budget debates.

–Hosted an Arts Advocacy Summit in January, an opportunity for arts advocates and creative economy leaders to network and brainstorm (see below for information on the next Summit!).

–Continued to engage an experienced lobbyist to help us effectively reach legislators.

–Lobbied hard–and successfully!–to retain the NH State Council on the Arts and the Department of Cultural Resources.

–Began a quarterly e-newsletter to arts supporters, and continued with Advocacy Alerts.

Our campaign for new members is underway.  Please consider becoming a member of NHCFA this month!  Your membership strengthens our ability to advocate for the arts sector across the state, year-round.  Your voice counts in this important work and so does your financial support.  Download a membership form at Join Us!  Thank you!

SAVE THE DATE: ADVOCACY SUMMIT ON NOVEMBER 21!

The next Arts Advocacy Summit will be held on Monday, November 21, from 8 am to Noon, at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord.  Details and registration information available soon.

–Hear about two proposed bills, to be introduced in the 2012 Legislative session, that seek to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources and the NH Percent for Arts program.

–Talk with other arts and community leaders about strengthening our  statewide network of arts supporters, and learn how to be a more effective arts advocate!

“VOICES OF THE (603)” CONCERT ON OCTOBER 14 IS A BENEFIT FOR NHCFA!

Voices of the (603), Friday, October 14, 6:30 pm, Currier Museum of Art, Manchester.  Tickets $10. All proceeds from the concert will go to support NH Citizens for the Arts!

UNH Manchester’s a cappella group, Milling Around, is hosting its 2nd Annual a cappella competition and concert for NH middle and high school students.  Learn more at Voices of the (603).

The concert  will last around two hours with a 30-minute intermission in which guests may view exhibits throughout the Currier Museum.

Enjoy an evening of wonderful music and art, and support our statewide arts advocacy effort at the same time–what a deal!

This is the latest we know about the NH State Council on the Arts budget:

– The Council, along with the other divisions of the Dept. of Cultural Resources (DCR), submitted a budget reduced by an additional 17% from the Governor’s budget–making the Arts Council’s State appropriation approximately $355,000, which they are currently using as a working budget.  This represents a decrease of a little over 23% from its FY2011 budget level.

–The Council’s partnership grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, which may exceed the amount of the state appropriation, has been requested and is likely.  (See below for news about the NEA.)

–The State’s overall funding situation is complex and still unsettled.  Because the whole DCR appropriation is a “back of the budget” provision, the bookkeeping is unusually complicated and remains subject to adjustments.

In the meantime, the great news is that the Arts Council is going forward with its important work! In late July, more than 20 grant applications (most for Arts in Education programs) were ratified, and other grant panels, delayed because of the uncertainties of the budget session, are now scheduled.

The Arts Council has also recently entered into a partnership with Americans for the Arts (AFTA) to conduct a statewide survey measuring the economic impact of the arts and culture in New Hampshire.  The data collected from organizations and audiences will generate statewide and local visibility for how nonprofit arts programs enliven our economy, and this information should help greatly in future advocacy.  (New Hampshire’s statewide participation in the survey has been underwritten through a generous private donation.)

You contributed your voice and energy to make this happen, and we should all be proud that our advocacy campaign helped persuade the State Senate that the State’s appropriation for the arts is a meaningful investment in New Hampshire’s economy and quality of life.

Although we celebrate the restoration of the Arts Council, further threats to the Council and the Dept. of Cultural Resources are possible in the next legislative session.  We will post more information as it becomes available–although we hope for a quiet summer!

If you haven’t already done so, we urge you to contact your State Senators to thank them for their support of the Arts Council and the Dept. of Cultural Resources.  The leadership of Senator Morse, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, was especially significant.  You can email Sen. Morse and members of the Finance Committee through the committee aide: shannon.whitehead@leg.state.nh.us (note in the subject line if the message is for Chairman Morse and/or the whole committee.

Contact information for all State Senators: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/Senate/Senate_members.aspx.

AUGUST 3, 2011:  FURTHER NEA CUT REJECTED IN THE HOUSE; THANK YOUR REPRESENTATIVES FOR HELPING TO DEFEAT THE WALBERG AMENDMENT!

It’s very good news that the Walberg amendment to cut a further $10 million from the NEA budget was defeated in the House this week. Both NH Representatives voted against the amendment!  Please thank your Congressman for this vote of confidence in the importance of the arts for our state and nation.

The FY12 Interior Appropriation bill will now go to the Senate, with a FY2012 budget for the NEA of $135 million (down from $155 million from this year).

Representative Charlie Bass:  http://bass.house.gov

Representative Frank Guinta:  http://guinta.house.gov