BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Cushingberry Introduces Arts Funding Bill

BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Cushingberry Introduces Arts Funding Bill

Just a few moments ago, State Representative George Cushingberry, Jr. (D-Detroit) introduced House Bill 5604, a bill that would provide a sustainable funding stream for arts and cultural grants in Michigan.

Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Representative Cushingberry's bill will create a 2% tax on the admission charge to an entertainment event in the State of Michigan. The bill defines entertainment event as a zoo, live theater, museum, opera, professional sporting event, collegiate athletic event, concert, and a few others. There has been some great initial thought put into the drafting of this bill as nonprofits with an operating budget over $200,000 are included but only if they have received money from this fund within the previous 12 months.

While we are unsure as to how this bill will progress through the legislature, ArtServe is grateful to Chairman Cushingberry for his leadership. He clearly understands the importance of arts and cultural funding and its direct link to retaining and attracting jobs as well as attracting families and investment to Michigan's communities.

We look forward to working with Chairman Cushingberry, the Legislature and Governor Granholm in moving this bill forward. Stay tuned for further updates as well as advocacy alerts that will require your assistance.

As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Mike Latvis, Director of Public Policy for ArtServe Michigan at 248-379-5897 or mike@artservemichigan.org.


To learn more about Michigan's arts advocacy movement, visit www.ArtServeMichigan.org

ArtServe Michigan: MCACA BUDGET FINALIZED

ArtServe Michigan: MCACA BUDGET FINALIZED

Friday, October 30th, Governor Granholm signed the General Government Appropriations Bill into law including $2.26 million in funding for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs for Fiscal Year 2010. As I've stated in the past, although this represents a 71% decrease in funding from the FY 09 level of $7.9 million, it was truly a win to stay in this year's budget given drastic cuts throughout a state government facing a $2.8 billion deficit.

In addition to the cuts seen in the grant budget, the council staff was decreased from five full time employees (FTE) to two. However, the council and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) were able to work three FTE into the council staff for FY 2010, with the remaining two staffers of the council receiving positions elsewhere in the department.

One of the positives that came out of this budget was the wiping of the council boilerplate language - instructions as to how the council can disperse its appropriation. The legislature is allowing the council to reassess its programs given its new level of funding and report back to the legislature by 12/31/2009 with grants being distributed by April of 2010. Trust that we will be in contact with you as soon as the council has made a decision regarding its new grant programs and timeline.

Thank you again to those of you who continually contacted your elected officials over the past nine months. I strongly believe that without your efforts the state arts council would have disappeared from this year's budget.

We look forward to partnering with the MEDC, MCACA and its clients to leverage this funding to obtain local match support, retain and attract jobs and businesses, and contribute to the quality of life that attracts families and investment to Michigan's communities. In the end, it is through partnerships with state and legislative leaders, business, community and nonprofit leaders that we will be able to re-invent Michigan's economy to be a driving force for future generations.

As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact ArtServe Michigan's Director of Public Policy, Mike Latvis directly at 248-379-5897 or mike@artservemichigan.org.

More info available at www.artservemichigan.org

11/10/09 - IGNITE 09: Uniting Voices for Arts and Culture in Michigan

ArtServe Michigan's

IGNITE 09: Uniting Voices for Arts and Culture in Michigan

Tuesday November 10, 2009 from 6-9PM
Max M. Fisher Music Center
Detroit, MI

$50 Fundraiser Ticket includes:

• Strolling dinner with beer/wine
• Keynote from Director of Cultural Data Project at Pew Charitable Trusts
• Performances from internationally acclaimed Mosaic Youth Theatre
• Video premiere of "Art is Everywhere", produced by Skidmore Studios
• Dedication honoring Big Three auto companies Chrysler, Ford and General Motors for their past support of Michigan's arts and cultural sector
  
• Your financial support for the state's arts advocacy organization, ArtServe Michigan working on behalf of arts, culture and arts education statewide!

For more information please visit www.artservemichigan.org

"Media Arts Services for Your Middle Schoolers!" From Kennedy Center

On Location: Spotlight On Your Community Seeks Applicants

The Kennedy Center, in cooperation with Daimler Financial Services, is pleased to announce the 2009-10 On Location: Spotlight On Your Community program. We are excited for the opportunity to connect middle schools across the nation by our On Location bus, media teaching artists, and in fulfilling our goal of connecting the arts across America through media-literacy. We have extended the residency from 10 to 13 days. This allows more dedicated class time to the production of the documentaries and greater assimilation of the technology and materials by students and teachers. With that said, we would like to encourage your school to submit their application to participate in this wonderful arts-integrated opportunity. The 2009-10 On Location application is due by November 13th, 2009.

Visit www.onlocationproject.org to learn more and to apply.

For assistance, please contact:

Glenn Bailey
Jr.Program Coordinator, Community Partnerships
(202)416-8803
grbailey@kennedy-center.org

DUE 11/6! Only 3 days left to submit for MI Arts Education Awards!

3 DAYS LEFT TO NOMINATE!

ArtServe Michigan is still accepting applications for the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education and National School Boards Association Award and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Schools of Distinction in Arts Education Award (State Level). As Michigan’s State Alliance to the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, ArtServe is honored to coordinate the nominations process for each of these arts education awards programs.

Schools may self-nominate and this is an amazing opportunity to showcase the excellence in arts education in Michigan schools at the state and national levels. For more information on the awards programs and nomination procedures please click the link below!

http://www.artservemichigan.org/?q=node/63

ProQuest to Offer Online Access to 90+ Years of the Detroit Free Press (1831-1922)

"ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- News from the Motor City -- from before statehood to the American Civil War to the birth and growth of theautomotive industry -- is now available in ProQuest Historical Newspapers, the definitive digital archive offering cover-to-cover, full-text, and full-image articles for significant newspapers dating back to the 18th Century. The Detroit Free Press (1831-1922) provides one of the deepest historical files and comprehensive coverage of the social, political and economic development of the Midwest, and offers new avenues into understanding the history of Detroit and Michigan."

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE