MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Summer planning leads to busy fall

Advocacy agenda is underway on many fronts

     In Arizona, fall is the season when we expect the temperatures to cool down and the arts and culture scene to heat up. That's certainly what's happening at Arizona Citizens for the Arts. After a pretty busy summer, the pace of activity here is getting downright feverish. 

     We're very close to unveiling a new strategic agenda for our organization to support the arts and culture sector - one that includes the input of nearly 100 stakeholders who've been working with us over the summer.

      We will be relaunching Business Volunteers for the Arts in October to provide capacity-building assistance to arts organizations and build more bridges between business and the arts and culture community.

      We're busy with our annual organizational membership drive to insure we have the financial resources to fight for our sector at the State Capitol and in local communities. (You may visit our new organizational membership payment page to join or renew today.) 

      And as you'll see in this newsletter, we're already gearing up for our two key public events - Arts Congress and the Governor's Arts Awards.

      On the advocacy front - there will be no more important an objective that maintaining the $1 million restoration of funds the Arizona Commission on the Arts received in the last legislative session.

      Even though the allocation was made on a onetime basis from the state's Rainy Day Fund, we are committed to making the restoration permanent from whatever funding source will accomplish our goal, and, if possible, growing the allocation to the $2 million level that existed before the recession.

     Every source of data for our sector is demonstrating more strongly every day that arts and culture is a critical contributor to our economy and our community life. As the state's recovery continues, we're seeing more and more signs of interest in revitalizing arts and culture. Arts organizations are rebuilding and remaking themselves for a successful future, and support for restoring public and private funding is growing, too. 

     These signs energize us. We'll continue to be there banging our drum for support and creating the partnerships that will grow our sector. This newsletter lists a number of ways we're doing that.  We hope you'll remain committed to being a part of these efforts.

Efforts restore funding to the Arts Commission

     All 53 members of the Arizona State Senate and House of Representatives who voted to restore funding to the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona State Parks have been named to 2013 Legislative Arts Heroes by Arizona Citizens for the Arts.

     The state's new $8.8 billion budget included one-time allocations of $1 million for each, derived from interest earned by the Rainy Day Fund.  The Arts Commission has already put the funds to work through its statewide grants programs for FY14.

     While many of these legislators have been longtime advocates for the arts in Arizona , the "Arts and Parks" initiative created by Senator Steve Farley, D-Tucson, this session offered the first opportunity in several years to restore some of the monies lost during the recession.

      The 2013 Legislative Arts Heroes who supported the initiative are:

State Senate

Steve Pierce, D-1; Linda Lopez, D-2;  Olivia Cajero Bedford; D-3, Lynne Pancrazi, D-4; Jack Jackson Jr., D-7; Barbara McGuire; D-8, Steve Farley, D-9;  David Bradley, D-10; Rich Crandall, R-16; John McComish, R-18; Anna Tovar, D-19; Michele Reagan, R-23; Katie Hobbs, D-24; Bob Worsley, R-25; Ed Ableser, D-26;  Leah Landrum Taylor, D-27; Adam Driggs, R-28; Steve Gallardo, D-29, and Robert Meza, D-30.

House of Representatives

Karen Fann, R-1; Andrea Dalessandro, D-2; Rosanna Gabaldón, D-2; Sally Ann Gonzales, D-3; Macario Saldate IV, D-3; Juan Carlos Escamilla, D-4; Lisa Otondo, D-4; Doris Goodale, R-5; Jamescita Peshlakai, D-7; Albert Hale, D-7; Frank Pratt, R-8; T.J. Shope, R-8; Victoria Steele, D-9; Ethan Orr, R-9; Stefanie Mach, D-10; Bruce Wheeler, D-10; Heather Carter, R-15; Doug Coleman, R-16; Jeff Dial, R-18; Bob Robson, R-18; Lupe Chavira Contreras, D-19; Mark A. Cardenas, D-1; Chad Campbell, D-2;, Lela Alston, D-24; Juan Mendez, D-26; Andrew Sherwood, D-26; Ruben Gallego, D- 27; Catherine H. Miranda, D-2;, Kate Brophy McGee, R-28; Eric Meyer, D-28; Martín J. Quezada, R-29; Lydia Hernández, D-29; Jonathan Larkin, D-30, and Debbie McCune Davis, D-30.

     Legislators will be recognized at local events in their districts, beginning in September and continuing through the end of the year.

      For more information about the Arts and Parks initiative and the efforts of Arizona legislators click here.

Plan now for February arts and culture rally

Arts Congress 2014 set for February 5

     Mark February 5, 2014 on your calendar now for Arts Congress. It's not too soon to register for this special opportunity to meet with your state legislators to discuss how important arts and culture is to your community. Sponsorships are available for $125 which includes four individual registrations and your organization's name listed in pre-event publicity and event day materials. Individual registrations are $25.  

      Keep your eyes open too for advocacy training opportunities leading up to the event and for a full agenda of activities on February 5.

     The 2014 Governor's Arts Awards are moving east, and the event will feature a new Presenting Sponsor.           

     The 33^rd annual celebration will draw artists, advocates, donors, business leaders and elected officials to the Mesa Arts Center Ikeda 

on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, the first time the awards have been presented outside of downtown Phoenix since 2009.

      "Arizona Citizens for the Arts represents organizations across the state and the Governor's Arts Awards reflect that diversity artistically, culturally and geographically," said Arizona Citizens for the Arts Executive Director Catherine "Rusty" Foley.  "We may not change venues every year, but we felt the Mesa Arts Center was a great fit for 2014.

      "We're also honored to welcome Arizona Public Service (APS) as the Presenting Sponsor for 2014."

     APS has a long history of arts support in Arizona, and its  return as a major partner in the Governor's Arts Awards is an important endorsement of the power and impact of arts and culture in Arizona, she said.

      Information about nominations and details about the 2014 event will be available soon at governorsartsawards.org.

Arizona Citizens for the Arts 

elects new board members

Names new committee chairs

     Arizona Citizens for the Arts has expanded participation from the business community and major arts organizations by electing nine new board members in June.

     They are:

• Laurie Goldstein, Freescale Semiconductor
• Charles Goldstein, M.D
• Anne Kleindienst, Polsinelli P.C.
• Bernadette Mills, West Valley ArtS Council
• Maureen O'Brien, Musical Instrument MuseuM
• Leah Fregulia Roberts, Arizona School for the Arts
• Bruce Richardson, Resolution Copper Company
• Vincent VanVleet, Phoenix Theatre
• Michael Vargas, Arizona Public Service

     The board also elected the following officers and committee chairs:

Joel Hiller

Yavapai Indian Cultural Center, President

Robert Knight

Tucson Museum of Art, Vice President

Phillip C. Jones

Community volunteer, Secretary

Dawn Brown

Arizona Business Consulting, Treasurer

Rick Pfannensteil

Pfocus LLC, Director-at-large

Jeff Rich

Rich-Gillis Law Group, Director-at-large

Tom Chapman

Arizona Department of Education, 

Finance Committee Chair

     The following board members also were re-elected to another three-year term:

Jennifer Burns, Public Affairs Consulting

Tom Chapman, Retired educator

Sen. Steve Farley, Arizona State Senate

Steve Martin, Childsplay

Results could impact arts instruction 

in the classroom

     Work is underway in communities across the state to secure passage of budget overrides on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

     From Chandler to Prescott and Somerton to Litchfield Park, special budget override elections are being held to help provide funding for, among other needs, maintenance and operations, provide soft capital for textbooks, furniture, equipment, technology and even school buses.

     Budget increases allowed by these override elections increase the ability and flexibility of school districts to direct resources to programs like arts education which, too often, are on the chopping block with budgets are tight.

     The Arizona Coalition for Education Excellence provides a list on its website (www.azcee.net) of bond and override elections scheduled in more than 50 communities in Apache, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma counties.  Details about local override elections are available by contacting your local school district. 

     Visit http://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/ if you are not sure in which district you reside. 

Sign the Online Petition Opposing Cuts to the NEA

     Add your name to the more than 20,000 arts and culture supporters nationwide who have signed the online petition opposing a 49% cut to the National Endowment for the Arts budget.  This $71 million cut would devastate the amount of money available to  the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona arts groups.

     As Congress returns to work this week, the 49% cut under consideration in the House of Representatives will be under debate in ongoing budget discussions.  With the end of the federal fiscal year looming, it is likely Congress will pass a continuing resolution to fund the government after October 1. We expect level funding for the NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

     However the debate will continue in the coming months; so, we need as many citizens as possible on record opposing the disproportionately large cuts to the arts and humanities. This funding makes up a minuscule portion of the federal budget, but positively impacts the lives of 75 million Americans.

     Put your voice on the record today, by signing the online petition here.

https://www.votervoice.net/ARTSUSA/Petitions/263/Respond 

     There's a new face familiar to many of you at Arizona Citizens for the Arts, but one you probably haven't seen in...oh....a decade or so.

     Before coming to the Valley, Linda worked in The Juilliard School production department for about 11 years providing support for the school's opera, drama, dance and music productions.  She started as a stage manager, moved to business manager and, because that wasn't enough work for her, added associate production manager duties.

     In the early 1980s, she was stage manager for the Theatre Company at Chautauqua (NY) Institution for one season and stage manager for Ensemble Theatre Company for a couple of summers.

     We're glad to have her back where she belongs. You may contact her about AzCA business at lindabarry@azcitizensforthearts.org.

teacher as he is a poet,"according to Arizona Republic columnist E.J. Montini, is Arizona's first Poet Laureate.

     Named to the post by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer following passage of the "Arizona Poet Laureate" bill at the end of the 2012 legislative session, Ríos will give four public readings a year and visit schools across the state. 

     After introduction of the bill, SB1348, by Senator Al Melvin of Tucson, passage was the result of work by the Arizona Commission for the Arts and Arizona Citizens for the Arts to

Joel Hiller  

President

Robert Knight 

Vice President 

Phil Jones

Secretary

Dawn Brown 

Treasurer

Rick Pfannenstiel 

Member-At-Large

Jeff Rich 

Member-At-Large 

Steve Martin 

Past President  

MEMBERS   

Salt River Project

 Arizona House of Representatives

Jennifer Burns

Consulting & Policy Development 

Sam Campana  

Community Volunteer  

Mary Dryden

Tucson Symphony Orchestra League  

Mark Feldman

Miller-Russell & Associates

Chuck Goldstein

EMCARE

Laurie Goldstein

Freescale Semiconductor

Anne Kleindienst 

Polsinelli, PC

Cathy Knapp  

Bernadette Mills

West Valley Arts Council

Maureen O'Brien 

Musical Instrument Museum
Bruce Richardson

Resolution Copper

     Online registration for Poetry Out Loud, a national competition for high school students, will be open until Oct. 18.

     Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Arizona Poetry Out Loud is an Arizona Commission on the Arts program, administered in collaboration with Arizona State University's Young Writers Program and the University of Arizona Poetry Center.

     Competition starts with classroom and school-level contests.  Winners move on to regional competition and then the state finals vying for an expense-paid trip to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, D.C.  Each state winner receives $200 and a $500 stipend for his or her school to buy poetry books.  There are prizes also for each state runner up.

     The national champion will win a $20,000 college scholarship.

Click here to register.