Arts Advocacy Alerts

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

Governor John Lynch has allowed the FY 12-13 budget to become law without his signature. Announcing his decision on June 24, the Governor said: “I recognize and appreciate the many hours of work that volunteer legislators put into developing this budget.  In its final form, however, this is not a budget I can endorse, and I believe the people of New Hampshire deserve and expect better.”

However we may feel about other provisions in the biennial budget, it is significant that the NH State Council on the Arts has been retained.  The current Council staff was not cut, although there will be substantial reduction in the state appropriation  for grant funds.  Given the complexity of issues the Dept. of Cultural Resources faces in apportioning the reductions for its divisions, the exact budget figures for the State Arts Council may not be confirmed until late this month.

Effective advocacy from hundreds of arts constituents across the state insured the survival of the Arts Council this year. Your calls, emails, letters and meetings–particularly with your State Senators during the second half of the budget debate–thoughtfully and passionately expressed the value of the arts in your lives, both as a stimulus to healthy communities and as a vital part of New Hampshire’s culture and heritage.  The arts help define us, educate us, and inspire us–and keep our spirits up!

NH Citizens for the Arts especially thanks members of the Senate Finance committee, and its Chairman, Senator Chuck Morse, for recognizing the importance of the State’s investment in the cultural life of New Hampshire.  We also acknowledge the help of our lobbyist Dan Callaghan, who provided astute guidance throughout the legislative session, and others who provided timely data and inside knowledge of the budget process but prefer to remain anonymous.

Although we should celebrate this victory, we must remain vigilant since further threats to the Arts Council are likely in the next legislative session.  We will post more information about the Council’s budget as soon as it becomes available.

ACTION REQUESTED:

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 significant.  Senator Morse and members of the finance Committee can be emailed through the committee aide: shannon.whitehead@leg.state.nh.us.  (Note in the subject line that the message is for Chairman Morse and/or the whole committee.)

Find other contact information for State Senators at: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/Senate/Senate_members.aspx.

The following Arts Action Alert is from Americans for the Arts, a national arts service organization dedicated to advancing the arts in all 50 states, and an excellent federal watchdog group.

Last month, federal legislation, the “Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act” (HR 1891), was introduced for the purpose of terminating 43 existing federal education programs, including Arts in Education (AIE). The federal AIE program currently funds 57 active education projects around the country, and has supported more than 210 competitive grants serving students in hig-need schools, as well as the affiliates of the Kennedy Center and VSA arts education programs.

The AIE program also provides critical federal leadership in supporting a well-rounded curriculum throughout our nation’s public schools.

On May 25, the House Education & Workforce Cttee approved HR 1891 by a party-line vote of 23 Republicans to 16 Democrats.  Americans for the Arts worked with members of the committee who offered an amendment that sought to restore some of these education programs, but the amendment failed to pass.

The full House of Representatives may vote on HR 1891 before their August Congressional Recess.  (The Senate Education Cttee, however, is not expected to consider HR 1891, as Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) plans on offering a separate, more comprehensive bill to reauthorize the Elementary & Secondary Education Act.)

We call on arts advocates to contact their House Representative through the customizable e-alert form below, and request that they oppose HR 1891 because it seeks to terminate the critical federal support directed to arts education.

Don’t let this bill narrow the curriculum of our students!

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/LAVTQAKHKH/JGUUQAMKUD/7026619771

To help Americans for the Arts with its important work, you can become a member of the Arts Action Fund on their web site (www.artsusa.org).  It’s free!

On June 16, the House and Senate Committee of Conference completed its compromise budget for the next biennium, FY 2012-2013.  The budget must be ratified by the full House and Senate by June 23, and then go to the Governor to be signed into law.  The State’s new Fiscal Year begins on July 1.

NH Citizens for the Arts is relieved and gratified to report that the Committee of Conference chose to accept the Senate’s version of the budget with regard to the Department of Cultural Resources (DCR), deleting the House provisions that would have dismantled the Department and eliminated the NH State Council on the Arts.

Although this is good news, the Department as a whole is still subject to a budget reduction of approximately 17%, in additions to the cuts proposed in the Governor’s budget.  The DCR Commissioner is authorized to allocate these cuts across the Department.

At this time, we do not know the final budget for the Arts Council.  We will have further updates as they become available.

We salute arts advocates from across the state for your continuing and effective support of the arts throughout this difficult budget session!

On Wednesday, June 1, the Concord Monitor reported on the Senate Finance Committee’s amended budget, which made substantial changes to the House budget bills, HB1 and HB2.  The article ended: “Other changes include the restoration of the Department of Cultural Resources. The House had eliminated the department…  The Senate committee decided to continue the department, a move that doesn’t require additional spending.  ’We can be proud of the fact that we have a Department of Cultural Resources in the state of New Hampshire,’ [Senate Finance Committee Chair] Morse said.”

NH Citizens for the Arts commends the Senate Finance Committee for its action in restoring the Department of Cultural Resources, which includes the NH State Council on the Arts, and we thank Committee Chair Chuck Morse for his leadership on this issue.

The full Senate voted to approve the Committee’s budget on Weds. afternoon.  Although the Senate rejected the House’s budget amendment in HB2 that eliminated the DCR, it retained the budget figures from HB1, a reduction of $536,533, or about 17%, from the Governor’s FY12 budget for the DCR.  The DCR Commissioner is authorized to allocate these cuts within the Department.  We do not yet know the proposed budget for the Arts Council.

The budget now returns to the House.  We expect that the House will request a Committee of Conference to resolve the differences in the two versions of the budget; this committee must be named by June 8.   If House and Senate agree, then the Committee of Conference must meet and produce a report by June 16th, with final action by the House and Senate by June 23rd.  The likely Chair of a Conference Committee will be Rep. Ken Weyler, Chair of House Finance, and the Vice Chair will likely be Senator Morse.

The situation in Concord is very volatile right now.  We will update you as we know more.

On Friday, May 13, the Senate Finance Committee voted to retain the Department of Cultural Resources (DCR), rejecting the wording in House Bill 2 that dissolved the DCR, eliminated the Commissioner’s office, and abolished the Arts Division.  The Senate Finance Committee requested an overall reduction of approximately $530,000 from the Department’s budget and recommended allowing the DCR Commissioner the flexibility to allocate the reduction across the Department.

At this time, we believe that the Senate Finance Committee’s action will result in survival for the Arts Council, although funding may not be at the level proposed in the Governor’s budget.

NH Citizens for the Arts urges the Commissioner to restore funding to the Arts Council sufficient to insure matching funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

In the meantime, we encourage arts advocates to continue contacting your State Senators on behalf of the Arts Council and its important work.  The modest public investing of state funds in support of the arts produces major economic activities and widespread impact across the state.  If at all possible, try to schedule a face-to-face meeting with your Senator.  Mailed letters are the most effective means of communicating with Senators, as are brief phone messages.  (Many Senators email boxes are crammed, and they may no longer be reading  email messages.)

Contact Your State Senator: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/Senate/Senate_members.aspx

We expect that the Finance Committee will vote on their complete budget by May 19th, and the full Senate will vote by the 26th.  The House and Senate must  form a Committee of Conference to resolves differences between the two versions of the budget by June 2.  We will issue more information as it becomes available. If you have questions, also feel free to contact any NHCFA board member, listed on this site at About NHCFA.

Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of the arts in New Hampshire.  It is making a difference!