Thursday, February 12, 2009

BREAKING NEWS: Governor Recommends $6.1 Million in Cuts to MCACA

Moments ago, Governor Granholm's Budget Director, Bob Emerson, announced that the Governor is recommending nearly zeroing out arts and cultural grant funding for Fiscal Year 2010.

Under the plan, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and its staff would be transferred into the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The State is planning to sell $100 million in bonds to leverage $1 million in funding of capital improvement arts grants. There will no longer be state dollars for operational grants.

With this cut, the Governor has just asked the Legislature to cut thousands of jobs in Michigan. ArtServe is calling on the entire arts and cultural community to stand up and fight. We must tell the Governor and Legislature how important these jobs are!

The fight to keep these jobs is just beginning and will ultimately be determined in the weeks to come. I implore you to pass this information on to as many people as you know so that we can garner enough support throughout Michigan to tell the Governor that this funding not only provides jobs, a return on the states investment, but provides the unique quality of life that attracts and retains businesses and families to this state.

We will be holding a conference call at 4pm to talk about our plans in moving forward to fight these cuts. If you would like to join this call please dial in at 4pm to 218-936-1100 and enter the Passcode 226 445#

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact Mike Latvis at mike@artservemichigan.org or 248-379-5897.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

FREE EVENT: Creativity in a Changing Economy

AMPlifying the Arts at EMU

CREATIVITY in a CHANGING ECONOMY: ENTREPRENEURIAL SOLUTIONS

You are invited to a panel discussion with local Arts & Entrepreneurship Leaders who will be sharing strategies on how they are navigating the downturn in our economy.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:00pm

Eastern Michigan University

Sponberg Theatre in the Quirk Building

Panelists include:

Tamara Real, Director, Arts Alliance

David Austin, Owner, What is that - a Gallery of Fine Art and Craft

Jennifer Goulet, President, ArtServe Michigan

Richard King, Director, EMU Entrepreneurship Center

Ken Fischer, President & CEO, University Musical Society

FREE EVENT

Please register at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/54994

Parking is available in the Alexander Lot next to the music building.

Light food will be provided.

For additional information check our

Facebook event or contact Dorrie Milan at dmilan@emich.edu

Creativity in a Changing Economy is sponsored by AMPlifying the Arts at EMU, the Arts Alliance, EMU Center for Entrepreneurship, and the

EMU Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts