Live Music Campaign
OPEN MEETING Wednesday Nov.25, 5:00PM 802 Club Room 1st floor
The campaign's major objectives are to build a strong coalition of arts organizations, labor unions, entertainment-dependent industries (hotel, restaurant, travel, etc), elected officials and public organizations that will:
A. Promote live music performance.
Live music performance is crucial to our city's economy, playing a key role in attracting local and foreign tourists whose spending is vital to the entertainment and hospitality industries.
B. Campaign for a substantial increase in arts funding at the city, state and national levels.
One of the major goals of the campaign will be to get a substantial increase in arts funding at the city, state and national levels to the many currently cash starved arts organizations, particularly those presenting live music performances.
C. Support arts education as a required part of the public school curriculum
One of the objectives of this coalition is to insure proper funding for arts education in every public school from the elementary grades to high school. Improving student performance and education levels requires arts education.
D. Mandate the fair treatment of artists
No professional artist in our city should go without payment for their work, the security of health care, state statutory benefits and the protection of their creative work from subsequent exploitation.
E. Work towards a permanent funding stream that supports the arts and arts organizations
The arts as an industry cannot depend upon the constantly changing political winds. There needs to be a permanent funding stream in place that grows as the economy grows and opens up the possibility of expanding live music venues throughout New York City and expanding employment opportunities for musicians.
F. Strengthen AFM Local 802's visibility and power
The campaign efforts must work to strengthen the union and allow it to reach new members, especially younger musicians and those from diverse ethnic populations.
