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Funding
Increase for NEA in House Subcommittee
Dear
Arts Supporter,
 July 28,
Washington, DC - The House Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee has approved a $2.5 million increase for the National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA), bringing NEA funding to $170
million for FY 2011. Current funding for the agency
totals $167.5 million. This is a noteworthy increase given
the current discretionary spending freeze in place.
Through
this increase, Rep. James Moran (D-VA), Chairman of the
Subcommittee, has once again demonstrated his
commitment in investing in our country's cultural
agencies. In his statement to the subcommittee, Chairman
Moran noted "the increase recognizes the value we place, as a
Nation, on our artistic and cultural heritage." The
increase represents the first step in the appropriations process,
and performing arts advocates just like you need to call on their
Senators and Representatives to support this increase as it makes
its way through the House and Senate.
The Performing
Arts Alliance invites you to be in touch with your Members of
Congress today and communicate the value of the NEA to support the
performing arts and your community. We have created a sample
letter for you to personalize, as it is important to include
information about you and organization when communicating with your
legislators.
Click
Take Action below to generate your letter and contact your Members
of Congress today!
Send
a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Senators
Your Representative
Below
is the sample letter:
Subject:
Support an Increase for the National Endowment for the Arts for
FY11
Dear
[decision maker name automatically inserted here],
As
your constituent and a performing arts advocate, I am writing to
express my strong support for increased funding for the National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for FY 2011.
The
NEA provides critical federal funding for performing arts
organizations, encourages artistic achievement, and brings the
performing arts to Americans in every corner of the country.
Direct grants to performing arts organizations -- and NEA support
allocated through state arts agencies -- expand public access to
performances, preserve great classical works, and nurture the
creative endeavors of performing artists nationwide.
The
NEA has never fully recovered from a 40% budget cut in FY 1996 and
all of its programs are seriously under-funded. Any
additional monies over the NEA's current budget of $167.5 million
will ensure that the NEA continues to support arts organizations in
all 435 congressional districts.
The
House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee has approved an increase
of $2.5 million for the NEA for FY 2011, which brings the agency's
budget to $170 million. I urge you to support this increase
for the NEA to restore and rebuild funding for the creation,
preservation, and presentation of the arts in America through the
NEA's core programs -- Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge
America: Reaching Every Community, Federal/State Partnerships,
and Learning in the Arts.
A
substantial funding increase would enable the NEA to support
performing arts organizations in our community.
Thank
you for your attention to his important matter. I look
forward to your support.
Sincerely,
[Your name automatically inserted here]
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