Advocates of the Arts Please Read

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Art Advocates,

President Bush today sent his FY 2006 budget request to Congress, beginning the yearly appropriations process for the nation's cultural agencies and programs including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Office of Museum Services (OMS) and the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs.

For FY 2006, the President has requested $121.3 million for NEA and $138.1 million for NEH. In effect, the President has level-funded these programs; he has neither offered an increase, nor has he requested any
cuts. The President requested a funding boost of $4.19 million (a 12 percent increase) for the Office of Museum Services, bringing the total OMS budget to $38.9 million.

This is the fifth consecutive year, the President's budget has eliminated funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs, which includes model arts collaborations with schools, teacher professional development, and arts programs for at-risk youth. It is important to remember that the President has never requested funding for these programs. This funding is traditionally restored by the Senate and accepted by the House in conference.

As you know, the President's budget is the first step in the appropriations process. While it serves as an important framework, Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change these funding levels. That's where you come in.

Arts advocates can make their voices heard by writing their Members of Congress and urging them to increase funding for arts and culture and restore funding for arts in education programs. We encourage you to
visit our E-Advocacy Center at

www.capwiz.com/artsusa

and write to your elected officials urging them to support funding
increases for the arts.

If you have any questions, please contact Justin Beland, Government
Affairs and Grassroots Manager, at jbeland@artsusa.org.