NC House Representative and Arts Caucus Chair Wins National Arts Award
On October 3, 2019 Representative Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg) will receive the Outstanding Woman State Legislator Supporting the Arts Award from The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Women in Government in Washington DC. Arts NC was proud to submit the nomination letter outlining Representative Carney’s long history as a champion for public funding and policy in support of the arts and art education. This award Is not only well deserved recognition for Rep. Carney, but it is also a reflection of the vibrant arts and culture community in North Carolina. We encourage you to congratulate Representative Carney, tell your Representatives why this good news is important to you, and to spread the word through your own networks and news outlets.
Representative Carney had a history as a supporter of the arts before her arrival at the NC General Assembly, and as such she quickly found herself as an advocate and supporter of the projects and grant programs of the North Carolina Arts Council. With her help appropriations for the North Carolina Arts Council grants programs have increased in either recurring or non-recurring funds each year since 2014.
In May 2018 Representative Carney in partnership with Representative Jeffrey Elmore founded the bipartisan Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts Education, and 44 North Carolina House Members joined the caucus in just a matter of weeks. The purpose of the Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts Education is to educate Members of the House and Senate on the economic, education, and civic impact of the arts industry in North Carolina and to help grow awareness of North Carolina as The Creative State.
“Representative Carney exemplifies the leadership that women bring to the table,” said Colorado Sen. Nancy Todd, chair of WIG’s Board of Directors. “Working across the aisle, she helped pass multiple bills to expand opportunities for students, residents and communities to have access to and to benefit from the arts.”
In her 22 years in elected office, Representative Carney has worked tirelessly to support the arts and arts education in the state of North Carolina. She is well known throughout the non-profit arts sector and within the arts education community as a great champion, empowered by her unflinching belief in the power of the arts to improve the lives of every person in our state.
Representative Carney was nominated by Nate McGaha, Executive Director for Arts North Carolina, and selected from a pool of other female legislators. Nominees must demonstrate a significant contribution in support of the arts, evidence of promoting policies that support the arts, collaborate with cultural and education partners to support the arts, and promote the value and importance of the arts in public life.
As the nation’s performing arts center, the Kennedy Center partnered with Women in Government to encourage support of the arts at the state or local level through this award. Women in Government is the premier organization providing leadership opportunities, expert forums, educational resources and opportunities to address and resolve complex policy issues to women state legislators.