Advocacy without Action is only Complaining

State and local government budgets are in free fall and arts funding as well as arts education is more vulnerable than ever. What's happening in your corner of the country? When you receive the call to take action to sustain government support for the arts be sure you do it immediately.

This week, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to completely eliminate arts, film, and public television funding. The budget isn't complete though. Go here immediately if you live in Pennsylvania to contact your state House of Representatives member.

The Governor of Indiana proposed a 50% cut to the state arts budget. It isn't clear from the Indiana Coalition for the Arts website if the cut has been restored or not.

Congratulations to the Maryland Citizens for the Arts and the state's arts advocates who convinced the legislature to reduce the governor's proposed $6 million cut by half. The arts council will receive $13.6 million for this year and next as well maintain its formula funding.

California suffered a 95% cut to the Arts Council five years ago, but we need action here too. We've proposed a new mechanism for arts funding that shifts a small portion of the current sales tax collected on art and art making materials to the CA Arts Council. If you live in California, go here right away to download the "Sample Letter" and insert your name/organization to communicate your support AB 700 - The Creative Industries and Community Economic Revitalization Act 2010

Cuts to state budgets are being echoed in cities and school districts. There is more arts advocacy to done now than I've ever seen. Even as you are working harder to keep the doors of your organization open or your family fed if you are an independent artist, I urge you to make time for arts advocacy. If many people do it in coordination, the load isn't too much and the achievements can be great.

To the right on my "Blogroll," I've listed most (maybe all) of the national and state advocacy organizations. Sign up for the email alerts from yours. Send letters or emails when they ask you. They will do all they can to make contacting your legislator easy and quick when the time comes, but you have to take that last step for mass campaigns to be effective. And remember that time is always of the essence.

Get on the email list of your local advocacy coalition. And if there isn't one, gather three other people to start one.

We have the reason and opportunity to become more mobilized in this current era of government overhaul. All it takes is a little time and action from everyone that loves the arts so we are a voice to be heard.