Creative City Tucson

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Tony

Arts Action Alert
Calling All Arizona Arts Advocates

More Info
It’s Time To Speak Up

The Arts in Arizona Face Additional Budget Reductions:

Non-Profit Grants, Jobs At Risk

Advocates Need to ACT NOW!

Following a 54% cut in the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ (ACA) state appropriation, a $10 million sweep of funds from the Arizona ArtShare endowment and lower returns from the Arizona Arts Trust Fund because of the economic downturn, ACA staff has responded to a directive from Governor Jan Brewer to all state agencies to find ways to slash 15% from its budget for fiscal year 2010 on top of the 40% reductions already made to ACA grants in this current year.

None of the options bode well for Arizona arts and cultural organizations.

There is no question that further cuts at that level would be devastating. More jobs would be lost, more revenue-generating community events would be canceled, approved ACA grants would face additional reductions and ACA’s state appropriation would be insufficient to meet National Endowment for the Arts’ guaranteed match requirement.

Q: What can you do? A: ACT NOW.

With the Arizona legislature out of session, now is the perfect time to speak directly with your state senators and representatives to tell them that, as a voter, you want to ensure that Arizona arts and cultural organizations can continue bringing value to Arizona as part of the long-term solution to our state’s economic woes by creating jobs, generating taxes, attracting out-of-state visitors and providing arts education opportunities for your children. These are the elected officials serving you and your district and they certainly need to hear your opinions.

Here’s a step-by-step plan for ALL Arizona arts advocates:

1. Go to www.azcitizensforthearts.org to “find your legislative district.” Make a note of your district number and the contact info for your State Senator and two Representatives. Call each of them to schedule a brief meeting at their office, or invite them to join you for coffee, breakfast or lunch.

2. At your meeting, tell him or her – face-to-face, voter to elected official – the value and the importance of the arts to you, your family, your community and your state. Tell your “story.”

3. Refer to the “Building Public Value” advocacy guide as you prepare for your meeting. You will find it full of facts, talking points and other useful material to help construct your personal stories. Remember, personal stories are extremely valuable to those in elected office.

4. Make a commitment to schedule these meetings before the end of December, when legislators are most accessible to their constituents.

5. Either in addition to, or in place of, a face-to-face meeting, every advocate should send a handwritten, personal note to each of their legislators expressing support for arts and cultural programs in your area. Send the same note to the Governor – she needs to hear from us too!

6. SPECIAL Considerations:
A. If you are hesistant to meet with your elected officials on your own, call us at Arizona Citizens for the Arts (phone 602 253-6535) and we’ll team you up with other arts advocate/constituents in your district. Or email director@azcitizensforthearts.org
B. If you would be willing to lead a small group of arts advocate/constituents, let us know so we can provide matches for your meeting. Email us at director@azcitizensforthearts.org

Together we can do this. We need hundreds of advocates to join us as we raise our voices on behalf of arts and culture in Arizona. Join the chorus – sing out on behalf of our treasured arts and cultural institutions.

We Simply Can’t Afford to Wait. Act Now!

Thank you to all the organizers, performers, artists, audience and community for helping make this event a huge success.

We will be posting images soon.

We invite you to join us for our September meeting, details to be posted to thhis  site.

The “Get Right Rounders” will open the show at an earlier, now 6 PM start time on Friday. Please adjust your schedules!!!

Winsett Park is the small stage off 4th Avenue, on the East side between 7th and 8th streets. See you there!