Arts Advocacy updateAs was previously noted on this blog in March, the Governor's proposed budget for 2011 included three major cuts of great of concern to Rhode Island's arts community: eliminating the public art program, eliminating the motion picture tax credit, and eliminating all competitive grants in the arts (a $700,000 reduction that would have practically eliminated all state arts grants, including significantly affecting CMW). Good news! Following a public hearing in May that featured testimony from many people representing the State's arts and arts education community, the House Finance Committee's proposal, announced last week, does the following: 1. It restores the State's public art program The total budget package now goes to the House floor, where it is scheduled to be heard on June 3. Once approved by the House, it travels to the Senate for approval, and from there goes to the Governor for his signature. It's not over yet… It is very important that we thank everyone we asked for help during this effort to restore the State's arts funding. Please contact your legislators and elected officials, thank them for their support, and let them know you support the proposals from the House Finance Committee. -Heath Marlow, CMW staff [This information is adapted from an email sent by Randy Rosenbaum, Executive Director of Rhode Island's State Council on the Arts.] |
