Advocacy News
House Appropriations Subcommittee Proposes $15 Million NEA Increase for Fiscal Year 2010!
One June 10, 2009 the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $15 million increase for the NEA for FY 2010! This Subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) who has once again demonstrated that he is our arts champion in the House of Representatives. The next steps are that the Bill will go to the full Appropriations Committee and then to the House Floor for final consideration. We may need to defend against Floor Amendments attempting to cut this increase. We will also need to encourage the Senate to match the House spending levels. The President had requested a $6.3 million increase which is a good start, and now the House Subcommittee has set the initial funding level for Congressional consideration. This is encouraging because an increase of this size is much more likely if it is established in Subcommittee.
On March 30 & March 31, 2009, TCG and other arts advocates converged in Washington, D.C., for Arts Advocacy Day
Every year TCG’s Government Programs staff and a group of theatre leaders attend Arts Advocacy Day in Washington DC. This year marked the 22nd annual gathering presented by American for the Arts, co-sponsored by TCG and 82 other arts organizations. Arts Advocacy Day gathers and empowers a broad cross section of America's cultural leaders. Hundreds of grassroots advocates participate and underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased funding for the arts. This year nearly 500 arts advocates from across the nation met with their representatives on Capitol Hill on March 31, calling on them to support arts-friendly legislation and policies.
Wynton Marsalis delivered the 22nd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture, which kicked off Arts Advocacy Day events on March 30th. Arts advocacy training workshops were the focus of the events on March 30th. There were legislative issue briefings on NEA appropriations, arts education funding, charitable tax incentives, improving the visa process for international artists, funding for cultural exchange and protecting performing arts technology that utilizes White Spaces.
The day for Hill visits was March 31st. Joining TCG staff in Washington, D.C. were Elisabeth Morten, Board President, Westport Country Playhouse, CT (TCG National Council Member); Mark Shugoll, Board President, Arena Stage now located in Crystal City, VA (TCG Board Member); Desiree Urquhart, Director of Government Relations & Corporate Development, Arena Stage, representing Molly Smith, AD, Arena Stage (TCG Board Member); and Laura Penn, Executive Director, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, NY (SSDC).
The TCG delegation met with Congressman James Himes (D-CT-4), and arts staffers in the offices of Congressman James Moran (D-VA-8), Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Senator Charles Schumer, (D-NY) and Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).
Economic Stimulus Bill Includes $50 Million for the NEA - a Big Win for the Arts!
February 13th 2009 marked a significant victory for the arts in this country. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included $50 million to preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector to be distributed through the NEA. More information and guidelines are posted on the NEA website.
The Economic Stimulus Bill includes other federal funding streams that are available to arts organizations. Guidelines to apply for NEA grants and a summary of the additional funding opportunities can be found by linking to the Performing Arts Alliance Economic Stimulus Resource Guide.
The Arts & Economic Recovery Policy Recommendations Announced
Theatre Communications Group, along with the Cultural Advocacy Group, released its Proposal for Economic Recovery & the Arts that stated policy recommendations for President-elect Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress, as they began the consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Our nine recommendations detailed how existing federal programs, as well as new proposals, could provide critical support to the country’s arts, as well as economic infrastructure.
Advancing the Arts, Approaching the Next Administration
Theatre Communications Group worked with the broader arts community to develop a slate of recommended actions that the new Obama Administration can take to strengthen support for the arts in communities nationwide. A transition document was created that speaks to traditional arts funding areas, including the National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Department of Education. It also addresses a broad array of federal policies including International Cultural Exchange, National Service and the Arts (i.e. AmeriCorps), Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (NCLB), Nonprofit Tax Policy and Oversight, and a Senior Administrative Position on Cultural Policy. Arts Policy in the New Administration, the complete and unified statement signed to-date by 25 national arts organizations, was presented to President-Elect Obama's transition team.
The American Arts Alliance is Changing its Name!
The American Arts Alliance has changed its name to the Performing Arts Alliance: The Coalition of Performing Arts Advocates. The new name, which reflects the organization’s performing arts advocacy focus, will officially take effect on September 15, 2008. Visit the Performing Arts Alliance website for more information.
White Space & the Federal Communications Commision (FCC)
Theatre Communication Group, along with the Performing Arts Alliance, continues to be very active on the White Space issue. We have had meetings with Hill staffers and four meetings at the FCC. In addition, TCG is also working in coalition with the Broadway League on this issue. The Broadway League has assembled an impressive coalition that also includes ART/New York, the Educational Theatre Association, ESPN, the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers, LORT, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, News Corporation, Major League Baseball and Sports Video Group. This coalition is represented by Skadden, Arps. TCG recognizes the benefits of greater access to the internet and encourages innovations that expand connectivity for underserved populations. At the same time, we are working to try to protect our members against increased interference to wireless microphone systems. Our first order of business with the FCC is to urge them to create a new class of entities (performing arts organizations) eligible to apply for a license to operate wireless microphones. This would afford our sector much-needed protection.
A reminder that performing arts organizations were to have vacated the portion of the “white space” – channels 52-69, between 700 and 800 MHz frequencies by February 17, 2009. Even though Congress has approved a delay in the final transition to digital TV until June 12, 2009 transition can begin sooner. You are urged to contact your wireless microphone equipment manufacturer because depending on make and model, your equipment could be re-banded with a new frequency range. Otherwise, it will need to be replaced. Please do this as soon as possible, especially if you are in a metropolitan market. We have learned that Shure Microphones is offering a trade-in rebate to customers who purchased equipment that operates in the 700 MHZ range in the past year. The rebate is posted on their website, http://shure.com/ProAudio/Rebates/us_pro_rebate_wireless.