Folks with a keen ear toward Washington have probably heard the National Endowment for the Arts and the arts in general mentioned in discussions of the stimulus plan currently being debated by the Senate. The initial bill, passed last week by the House, included a controversial $50 million for the NEA. Opponents of arts funding in the stimulus contend it’s pork barrel spending that could be better used for additional spending on roads and other construction projects, while proponents say arts funding creates jobs, just like other projects.
LexArts President and CEO Jim Clark has weighed in on the issue with an open letter to the Lexington Arts Community on the arts umbrella group’s Facebook page urging people to lobby city, state and national lawmakers to favor arts funding. Clark writes:
Jim Clark. Photo courtesy of LexArts.
“We all must participate in dispelling the idea that the arts are a luxury . . .
“The NEA puts it simply by saying ‘The arts and culture industry is a sector of the economy just like any other with workers who pay taxes, mortgages, rent and contribute in other ways to the economy.’ Many major arts service agencies, including Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the NEA and Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) have stressed the importance of focusing on the passage of the Stimulus package prior to this amendment. It is our responsibility as citizens to inform our representatives in Washington, Frankfort and here in Lexington exactly how important the arts are to the social and economic welfare of our community.”
Clark goes on to detail several arts oriented projects contained in a proposal Mayor Jim Newberry’s office submitted to President Barack Obama’s transition team, including renovations to facilities such as ArtsPlace, the Expolorium and the Kentucky Theatre.
Click “read the rest of this entry,” below, or, if you’re a Facebook member, the link above to read Clark’s note in its entirety.
A message to the arts community from Jim Clark, President and CEO of LexArts: The Stimulus Plan and its potential impact on Lexington
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that included $50 million dollars for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to help stimulate the economy. This is important because the NEA is uniquely positioned to assist in job stimulation for the arts industry. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives and went on to the Senate where, Friday afternoon, the Senate approved an amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) that stated “None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project.”
Unfortunately, this amendment passed by a wide vote margin of 73-24 which shows how many legislators believe that arts funding is “pork.” The NEA puts it simply by saying “The arts and culture industry is a sector of the economy just like any other with workers who pay taxes, mortgages, rent and contribute in other ways to the economy.” Many major arts service agencies, including Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the NEA and Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) have stressed the importance of focusing on the passage of the Stimulus package prior to this amendment. It is our responsibility as citizens to inform our representatives in Washington, Frankfort and here in Lexington exactly how important the arts are to the social and economic welfare of our community.
Fortunately, Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, Vice Mayor Jim Gray and the Urban County Council are extremely supportive of the arts in Lexington and central Kentucky. In addition to funds allotted for the NEA, this bill also contains other provisions that would benefit us. At the request of President Obama’s transition team, a team of community leaders compiled a list of local capital projects and submitted them for funding this past week, as did communities across the country. Lexington’s list included 196 projects totaling $556 million.
Among the items on the list presented by Mayor Newberry are several projects that will directly benefit the arts community. They include upgrades and renovations for facilities such as ArtsPlace, the Downtown Arts Center, the Carnegie Center, the Explorium of Lexington, the Carriage House Theater at Bell House, the Kentucky Theater and the Lyric Theater. Without Federal support, the city would not be able to complete these projects.
The Senate’s version of the Stimulus package would severely limit our ability to upgrade and enhance Lexington’s arts and cultural facilities — all of which would provide job opportunities for the construction and service industries as well as the arts sector. Federal legislators should not tie the hands of our local officials when it comes to determining what would be best for our community.
In addition to the Stimulus package, there has been talk about establishing a Cabinet level Secretary for the Arts. AFTA, the NEA and GIA all believe a staff level position in the White House, advocating for arts integration, funding and policy would be more beneficial. The notion of creating an “Arts Czar” or Arts Secretary would only create new bureaucracy and cloud the real issue – increased funding for the arts.
We all must participate in dispelling the idea that the arts are a luxury. It is up to us to communicate to our representatives in Washington that funding for the arts is a necessary step in improving our local and national economy. Please join the Arts Action Fund with Americans for the Arts (www.ArtsActionFund.org). It is free and will help you stay abreast of current developments as well as help you contact your representatives to let them know how important the passage of this bill is to our community. Arts Kentucky (www.artsky.org) is also very helpful in guiding you through the steps of contacting legislators. If you haven’t done so already, take action now and make a difference for our community. Please encourage everyone you know, whether they are artists, arts patrons or arts supporters, to do the same.
Thank you,
Jim Clark
