Arts Funding Call to Action
Immediate Response Required
Arts North Carolina is deeply concerned about the direction of funding for the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council in the current budget process. An immediate response is required. Please forward this Call to Action and encourage advocates in all 100 counties to respond no later than 4:00 PM, Friday, June 9th.
This Call to Action will provide the names and contact information for 6 Key Legislative Leaders who will determine the outcome of the state budget. If you have personal phone or email information, communicate directly. If not, the phone numbers of their offices will be provided below.
THE FACTS – BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
Grassroots Arts Program
Senate: Recurring increase of $750,000 for a total of $3,053,708
House: Recurring increase of $675,000 for a total of $2,978,708
We are receiving information that the reconciliation Sub Committees have lowered the Grassroots recommendation BELOW the HOUSE recommendation!
CONCERNS WITH BUDGET
In addition to the funding for the North Carolina Arts Council grants program, the House budget included an increase of $2million/$2.1 million NR and $350,000R for the North Carolina Museum of Art, bringing their total allocation to $9 million/$9.1 million.
We are deeply concerned that one state entity in Raleigh which serves 521,000 visitors per year will receive more funding than the entire state which yearly serves 5,845,249 men, women and children in all 100 counties. In speaking with your Legislators, you should express your concern for the deepening division of rural and urban funding for cultural resources.
CALL TO ACTION
Contact these Legislators with phone messages, email as a last resort:
| President Phil Berger | 919-733-5708 | Phil.Berger@ncleg.net |
| Senator Harry Brown | 919-715-3034 | Harry.Brown@ncleg.net |
| Speaker Tim Moore | 919-733-3451 | Tim.Moore@ncleg.net |
| Representative Nelson Dollar | 919-715-0795 | Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net |
| Representative Linda Johnson | 919-733-5861 | Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net |
| Representative Chuck McGrady | 919-733-5956 | Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net |
The Message:
In order to minimize further divisions between urban and rural cultural resources, we respectfully ask that you consider increasing Grassroots Arts funding for the North Carolina Arts Council, and in so doing, more fairly distribute tax dollars to all 100 counties in North Carolina.
$750,000R Grassroots Arts
$2,000,000NR Grassroots Arts