News from Arizona Citizens for the Arts

Issue: 16

July/2011

Primary August 30th, 2011

You, as a voter in the city of Phoenix have an opportunity to make a real difference this summer when you join other citizens in casting ballots to elect a new mayor and five council members. Support for public funding for the arts in Phoenix depends on the results of this election.

Arizona Action for the Arts has asked each of the candidates officially on August 30, 2011, ballot to explain their support for the arts and arts-friendly policies by completing a survey. The results of that survey are available here for you to use in deciding who will get your vote.

As you will see, many candidates responded to us, and a number did not. Even among those who responded, there ARE important differences.

Because you are a voter who cares about the arts and culture sector in our community, we are asking you to do three things:

Carefully examine the response from the candidates which are included in this document.
Forward this e-mail to your friends and colleagues in the city of Phoenix and urge them to read the survey results.
VOTE for candidates that you believe will continue to value and promote financial and program support for arts and culture in our city.

Non-profit arts and culture in Phoenix is responsible for $360 million in economic activity annually, employing more than 11,000 citizens and contributing about $17.3 million in local tax revenue and $22.5 million in state tax revenue.

Yet, the city budget crisis of the last three years resulted in progressive cuts to the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture grants budget so that only $150,346 is left in this year's budget - down from an historic high of $793,000 in FY2002-2003.

We know that arts and culture will play a critical role in Phoenix' economic recovery and in creating the atmosphere and experiences attractive to the 21st Century workers and industries we want in our city.

Arts and culture deserve a place in Phoenix's economic development and community growth strategies, through grants to local arts groups to expand their reach in the community, continuation of the public art program and arts-friendly policies that support and encourage the development of arts and culture-related businesses and activities.

We must elect a Mayor and a City council who believes this, too.

Please examine this survey today, and pass it on.

IMPORTANT DATES

August 1 Last day to register to vote in the Phoenix Election

August 4 First day for early voting

August 19 Last day to request an early ballot

August 26 Last day to vote at an early ballot location

August 27 Voting begins at voting center locations *

August 30 Voting ends at 7 p.m.

*The City of Phoenix will be using voting centers for the first time this election; so voters no longer are required to vote at a specified polling place in the precinct where the voter resides. Any city voter can use any one of the 26 voting centers to cast a ballot, on the Saturday and Monday prior to Election Day. This new way of voting is only for elections conducted by the City of Phoenix.

House Rejects Further Cut to NEA

Thank You Representatives Pastor and Griljalva

NEA

On Thursday, July 28th HR 2584, which would have cut an additional 10.6 million from the NEA failed, 240-181. Please click here for the vote's role call to see how your Representative voted.

In all, 181 Democrats and 55 Republicans voted against this additional 10.6 million dollar cut. Its important to take a minute and thank the Arizona Representatives that voted against this additional cut. Thank you Representative Pastor and Representative Grijalva for saying no to this proposed cut and for supporting arts and culture in our nation.

The next step is for the entire House Interior bill to be completed and voted on with the committee-set appropriation of $135 million for the NEA in the legislation. It is unclear when this vote will take place.

Please continue to show your support for the NEA, keep watching the progress of this legislation and let your Representatives know that you support federal funding for the arts at: www.azcitizensforthearts.org, www.senate.gov, www.house.gov and remember to use the AzAA Legislative Action Center.

Town Hall Community Outreach

From the 98th Town Hall, Capitalizing on Arts and Culture

The final reports are being published and distributed with findings and recommendations for the 98th Arizona Town Hall this month.

Through out the fall community meetings will be held all over Arizona. You will have the chance to attend these meetings, read the final report, and hear from Town Hall members about the process and results from the 98th Town Hall.

Here's a list of the meetings already scheduled:

Yuma - Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (lunch)

Yuma County Main Library, Multipurpose Rooms B & C.

Phoenix - September 8, 2011, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00p.m. (lunch). In conjunction with Soroptimist International of Phoenix

Hilton Garden Inn, 4000 N Central Ave., Phoenix

Phoenix - Monday, September 12, 2011, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (lunch)

Herberger Theater, 222 E. Monroe TENTATIVE

West Valley - Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 11:30 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. (lunch)

Communiversity of Surprise, 15950 N. Civic Center Parkway

Kingman - Thursday, October 5, 2011, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (lunch)

Mohave County Administration Building, 700 W. Beale Street

Flagstaff - October 6, 2011, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (lunch)TENTATIVE

High Country Conference Center @ Northern Arizona University

Tucson - Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 11:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (lunch)

Location to be determined.

Sierra Vista - Thursday, September 15, 2011, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (breakfast)

Cochise College, 901 N. Columbo Ave., Student Union Building, Community Room

Douglas - Thursday, September 15, 2011, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (lunch)TENTATIVE

Phoenix - Friday, October 21, 2011, 12:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (lunch)

Phoenix City Hall

Wickenburg - Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. In conjunction with the Wickenburg Leadership Institute.

Wickenburg Community Center, 160 N. Valentine Street

For more information please go to: Arizona Town Hall

NEA Research on Cultural Industries

Economic Powerhouses

NEA Economic Impact A new data analysis from the National Endowment for the Arts shows that cultural industries including performing arts, museums, motion pictures, sound recording, publishing and sports contributed a total of $278.4 billion to the U.S. economy in 2009.

The data is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arts and the GDP: Value Added by Selected Cultural Industries, which examines added value through labor and capital, excluding material and energy costs.

Value added specifically from the performing arts was $7.2 billion and $4.7 billion from museums.

Other findings:

· Between 1987 and 2009 inflation-adjusted value added by the performing arts, sports, and museums nearly doubled.

· The performing arts contribute more to states with large, diverse economies, such as California and Texas. Each new dollar of value added by the performing arts industry in California adds $1.38 to that state's economy. The comparable figure in Texas is $1.28.

The NEA research is available for download in the Research section of www.arts.gov.

Arizona Commission on the Arts

Offering Professional Development Grants

ACA Mini-grants for professional development are available to artists, arts administrators and art educators from the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

The grants, between $500 and $750, must be matched by a minimum of 25 percent of the grant amounts and are meant to supplement an overall budget.

Applicants need to make a compelling case about why a particular opportunity was chosen and the significant impact it will have on their career and/or community. First deadline is Aug. 12. Second is Jan. 13, 2012.

More information: http://www.azarts.gov/grants/quick-turnaround/.

Rusty Foley Named Executive Director

Announcement from AzCA/AA

Rusty Foley Catherine "Rusty" Foley, who has carried the "interim" executive director title since last September, has been named to the post permanently by the Arizona Citizens for the Arts board of directors following a national search.

"The national search really showed us that we had the right person already at the helm," said Board President Steven Martin of Childsplay. "Rusty has provided solid direction and built a great foundation for the organization to move forward, expand its reach and take our advocacy efforts to the next level of success."

In This Issue

Phoenix City Election

NEA Funding Cut Proposal

Town Hall Community Outreach

Economic Impact Research

ACA Professional Development Grants

Featured Article

Support Az Citizens

Become a Member Today

Member Organization Spotlight

Now in its 21^st year, the Sedona Arts Festival on Oct. 8 and 9 will bring 150 juried artists from across the country to the Sedona Red Rock High School football field.

Funds raised through the festival provide scholarships and grants to students and arts organizations throughout the Verde Valley which, since 1989, total more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Known for its quality of art and first-class treatment of both artists and attendees, the Festival also includes a hands-on, interactive KidsZone.

Information: www.sedonaartsfestival.org.