A chorus of voices is needed to restore state's investment
in the arts and arts education!
Dear Friend in the Arts,
We must act now to send a powerful message to Governor Rod
Blagojevich, Senate President Emil Jones, House Speaker Michael
Madigan, and other state lawmakers that the arts are not pork!
The Governor’s FY08 spending plan calls for a dramatic 35% cut
(over $7 million) to the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) budget. This
decrease in funding will undoubtedly have a devastating impact to
the arts statewide and significantly reduce the funds available
for IAC grant programs.
Furthermore, the Governor completely eliminated the Arts and
Foreign Language grant program through the Illinois State Board
of Education (ISBE).
This dangerous decision will have very negative implications for
all the people of Illinois. Support from the Illinois Arts Council
is crucialto the success of artists, arts organizations, and entities
providing arts programming throughout the state. Strategic investments
made by the Illinois Arts Council to community theaters, dance studios,
schools, local festivals, libraries, museums, and park districts enhance
our overall quality of life and have a significant impact on the economic
health and vitality of the state - creating jobs, boosting tourism, and
revitalizing downtowns.
The budget approved by the legislature on August 10, 2007 would have
increased the Illinois Arts Council's budget by $3.6 million from last year’s
budget level and brought us very close to our goal: a budget of $24 million
for the Illinois Arts Council, or $2 per person, per year in Illinois.
The budget also would have increased the Arts and Foreign Language
grant program at ISBE to over $6 million in FY08 to assist school districts
in providing valuable arts and foreign language programming.
The Illinois Arts Alliance is moving forward with an aggressive campaign
to restore full funding for the Illinois Arts Council and arts and foreign
language education funding at the Illinois State Board of Education.
We NEED your help now more than ever before!
Please tell Governor Blagojevich, senate and house leadership, and
your state lawmakers TODAY how essential the arts are to you and
your community. We have made it extremely easy for you to effectively
advocate for the arts.
Here is what we are asking you to do:
1) Write two letters to lawmakers using the talking points provided in
the links below
2) Make two phone calls to the numbers listed below expressing your concern with the proposed budget cuts to the arts and urging that funding be fully restored for the Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois State Board of Education’s Arts and Foreign Language grant program.
a) Ginger Ostro
Budget Director for Governors Office of Management and Budget
Ginger.ostro@illinois.gov
312-814-0023
b) Governor Rod Blagojevich
312-814-2121 (Chicago) OR 217-558-0880 (Springfield)
While the road ahead is rocky, together we can restore full funding for the arts in Illinois! Should you have any questions or concerns please contact me at 312-855-3105 ext 14 or email joy@artsalliance.org
Sincerely,
Ra Joy
Executive Director
Illinois Arts Alliance
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