Public Matters

16 Mar NEA Two-Step Advocacy Resources

Posted at 21:13h in Uncategorized by admin

The arts are indispensable to civic and public life. Our government’s budget should reflect it.

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ADVOCACY IN TWO PARTS

1) Call your representative

2) Send a postcard (scroll down for printable versions)

Find your reps’ contact info:

>>Various Elected Officials

>>U. S. Senators

>>House of Representatives

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CALL YOUR REP – RESOURCES

Talking points for calls:

The NEA is the single largest national funder of nonprofit arts in America. NEA grants help leverage more than a 9 to 1 match in private charitable gifts and other state and local public funding.
The NEA also has an exemplary partnership with the states, with 40 percent of program funds distributed through state arts agencies.
With only a $148 million annual budget, the NEA investments in the arts helps contribute to a $730 billion economic arts and culture economic industry, including 4.2 percent of the annual GDP and supporting 4.8 million jobs that yields a $26 billion trade surplus for the country.
For more than 50 years, the NEA has expanded access to the arts for all Americans, awarding grants in your congressional district and throughout all 50 states and U.S. Territories.
NEA funding reaches small, rural towns through its “Our Town” grants and specifically helps our wounded soldiers and veterans with effective arts therapy.

The Ask: Please help ensure this work continues by supporting $155 million for the NEA in both the FY17 and FY18 budgets. Thank you for taking my views into account. I look forward to hearing your position on this important funding.

Bonus: I hope you will also sign the circulating bipartisan “Dear Colleague” appropriations letter, led by Reps. Slaughter and Lance, also calling for $155 million. Jack Spasiano with Rep. Slaughter is the staff contact. I hope I can count on you to lend your support.

Hashtags: #ArtsVote, #SaveTheNEA, #StandfortheArts

Find out more about National Endowment for the Arts- and National Endowment for the Humanities-supported projects in your district: