Advocacy Day in Washington March 31 - April 1

Advocacy Day included a Congressional breakfast, advocacy training, meetings with your members of Congress, and the annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on the Arts and Public Policy. The Alliance of NYS Arts Organizations is the State Captain and coordinated and lead the New York delegation on the Hill.

 

 

 

[ John Legend was there as an Advocate for the Arts. Our own, Judy Weiner and burgeoning new leaders had the opportunity to meet with him and thank him for his support]

 

 

The President signed largest NEA Increase in 30 Years.

In December President George W. Bush signed into law H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2007, which includes $144.7 millionfor the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - $20 million more than the previous year's appropriation and the largest increase in NEA funding in 30 years. Due to the leadership of House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA) and Congressional Arts Caucus co-chairs Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Chris Shays (R-CT), the NEA saw a 16 percent boost in funding over FY 2007.

NOW....
After three years of minimal, but incremental, funding growth, President Bush has proposed a $16.3 million cut for FY 2009 for the NEA-from $144.7 million to $128.4 million.

For the eighth consecutive year, the President's budget has eliminated funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs, which include funding for model arts programs and collaborations with schools, teacher professional development, and arts programs for at-risk youth.

Also, the FY 2009 budget request calls for a rescission of $200 million in already-approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The President also asked for a slight cut to the NEH, from $144.7 to $144.3 million. Finally, and on a positive note, the President requested a funding boost of over $8 million for the Office of Museum Services, bringing the amount of funding available for grants to almost $40 million.