TAKE ACTION NOW $3.5M in House Budget for Arts – NOT for All 100 Counties
The NC House of Representatives passed their version of the biennium budget78-38 with all Republicans and nine Democrats voting in favor of it, which includes an additional recurring allocation of $3.5 million for Grassroots Arts Program grants each year. This would accomplish our longstanding goal of recurring NC Arts Council grant funding equal to $1 per capita. Unfortunately, the funding language designates the additional funding for ONLY Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, excluding 20 counties and a nearly half (47%) of North Carolina’s population. We need your help to make sure our elected representatives know that we are appreciative but need them to include all 100 counties!
The Tier 3 Counties excluded are: Avery, Brunswick, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Currituck, Durham, Henderson, Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Moore, New Hanover, Orange, Pender, Union, and Wake.
Also, in the House budget proposal, the whole-school arts integration program that is part of the NC Arts Council, A+ Schools of North Carolina, received a non-recurring allocation of $750,000 each year for the next two years to fully
Also, in the House budget, the whole-school arts integration program that is part of the NC Arts Council, A+ Schools of North Carolina, received a non-recurring allocation of $750,000 each year for the next two years to fully match funds from a private foundation. Arts NC has been working directly for this exact allocation alongside the NC Arts Foundation and others to support and grow this resource for educational innovation through creativity in the arts.
NOW IS THE TIME to write to your NC Senator and ask that these allocations be preserved, but for all NC Arts Council grants in all 100 counties, not just Grassroots Arts Program grants in Tier 1 & 2 counties. The exclusion of Tier 3 counties does not allow the agency to equitably serve all North Carolina communities and deprives tax-paying citizens in 20 counties of vital state resources. Also, while the Grassroots Arts Program is tremendously valuable, there are many other NC Arts Council grant programs that have not received increased recurring funding in over a decade. Also, write to your NC House Representative and be appreciative for this historic investment but that they should help ensure that the final budget includes a $3.5 million recurring allocation for ALL NC Arts Council grants for ALL 100 counties. Arts NC is working with House Representatives and Senators in key positions to make our voice heard. It is crucial to make them aware that we need this investment in the arts and culture of our entire state. Please TAKE TWO MINUTES to do the same.