State arts budget update

This just in from Lisa Carnevale, Executive Director of RI Citizens for the Arts, Rhode Island's statewide arts advocacy organization:

Governor Carcieri cut the arts budget by nearly 60% while all other publicly funded programs were cut less than 10%. His move paints a bleak picture for Rhode Island's creative sector, and its benefit to the state–economically and culturally. Now it is up to the Assembly to restore these cuts.

On Thursday, Senate Finance Committee members will hear testimony on the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts budget.  We need you to tell them to reinstate funding for RISCA.  

Please call or write your State Senator right away and urge him/her to reject the Governor's plan to decimate funding for the arts.

RISCA provides significant annual program support to CMW, along with many other arts and arts education programs across the state. Please join us in showing our support of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

-Heath Marlow, CMW staff

See photos of Phase III teens performing at the State House last week here.