Tucson: Grass Roots effort to support the Arts!

 

From: Heidi Nobantu Saul [mailto:heidi@nobantu.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 8:36 PM
Subject: Grass Roots effort to support the Arts!

 

Support arts funding in our stimulus package, here’s why!

 

This past weekend’s Winter Council was a rich dialogue on the current state of affairs in the economy and the arts community.  One of our discussions centered on arts advocacy.   In particular, countering the negative and false information currently circulating about the NEA portion of the economic stimulus package.  This group, working with Dance/USA staffer Amy Fitterer, collectively created the “top ten list” you see below (and attached) as a way to counter this misinformation.  It is based on solid research data and is meant to directly counter the “arts spending is pork” myth.  As you all well know, the arts are good for the economy and we have the facts on our side.

 

We intend to spread this document far and wide – via Email, Facebook and other social networking sites, and invite you to do the same.

 

The NEA funding is under attack and we need to act and act now -- not just for this stimulus package, but to put these false arguments to rest once and for all.

 

Warm Regards

 

 

The arts are part of the solution! 

 

The arts are a powerful economic engine and play a vital role in our communities, enhancing each of our lives.

 

Get the facts, not the spin!  Let’s keep and increase arts funding in the stimulus package!

 

Here are ten reasons why the arts should matter to you.

 

1.       Increased funding in the arts invests in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, is the cornerstone of tourism and economic development, and drives a creativity-based economy.

2.       Nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences generate $166.2 billion in economic activity every year.

3.       Nonprofit arts organizations return nearly $30 billion in government revenue every year.

4.       Nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences support 5.7 million jobs.

5.       Investment in non-profit arts generates a spectacular 7:1 return on investment. That is, $1 invested in the arts generated $7 in the community.  $50 million to the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) would generate $350 million in economic activity.

6.       The arts are shovel-ready – each dollar of arts funding goes to work immediately creating jobs, attracting investment, generating tax revenue, and stimulating local economies through tourism and consumer purchases.

7.       Artists constitute a sizeable class of workers -- only slightly smaller than the total number of active-duty and reserve personnel in the U.S. military.

8.       The performing arts draw more attendance than sports. 70% of Americans attend at least one performing arts event per year versus 53% that attend one sports event.

9.       Children who receive an arts education on a regular basis are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and less likely to engage in delinquent behavior.

10.   A strong arts and culture sector and a creative workforce attract and keep businesses in the community - it is one of the top ten attributes corporations look for in a new business site.

The arts are not “pork spending” -- even if you are not an arts patron, the money spent on non-profit arts funding benefits you. 

The money allocated for the National Endowment for the Arts represents less than 1% of the proposed economic stimulus package.

The arts are part of the solution!

Take action now!  Write your congressmen in under 5 minutes!  Click here:

http://theperformingartsalliance.org/campaign/AmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentBill

More Talking Points on the Power of the Arts

 

Research comes from Americans for the Arts, the National Governors Association, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Performing Arts Research Coalition

 

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