Federal Action Alert and MCACA Grant Update from ArtServe Michigan

ArtServe Michigan

Federal Action Alert and MCACA Update

Federal Action Alert: Rep. Tim Walberg (MI – 7) Amendment

A few weeks ago we reported that the House of Representatives appropriations subcommittee began the funding cycle for Fiscal Year 2012 by approving legislation to fund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at $135.2 million, which is a reduction of $20 million from the current year.

Yesterday, as the U.S. House of Representatives began consideration of this legislation, Rep. Tim Walberg (MI – 7) offered an amendment to cut $10 million from the NEA, which has been cut by 13 percent in the legislation already! This would result in a $30 million cut to the NEA, the deepest single year cut in 16 years.

We need your help! Please click here to send a pre-drafted message to your member of Congress urging them to oppose the Walberg amendment.

Michigan receives over $4.5 million each year in grant funding from the NEA. This year, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs received a partnership grant from the NEA totaling $820,000 – which accounts for nearly a third of the council’s budget. The remainder of grant dollars is spread throughout the state to organizations and individual artists. As you know, this money helps retain and create tens of thousands of jobs and returns the NEA’s investment by pumping hundreds of millions of dollars back into local economies each year.

We aren’t alone! Last week the White House issued a veto threat of the budget bill. In the statement, the White House states that, among other things, cuts to the NEA “…would cut support for arts organizations across the country during a time when private and State arts funding is also highly constrained.”

Further, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), chair of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and floor manager for the bill, has pledged to oppose any amendments to cut NEA funds below the level in the bill. Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Todd Platts (R-PA), co-chairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus, and Jim Moran (D-VA), ranking minority member on the appropriations subcommittee, are also active in organizing opposition to further reductions in arts spending.

Our allies in the White House and Congress need your help! Please take a moment to click here to send a pre-drafted message to your member of Congress urging them to oppose the Walberg amendment. Additionally, if you reside in Congressman Tim Walberg’s district please also consider calling his office at 202-225-6276 to urge him to withdraw his amendment.

MCACA Grant Process Update

Last Friday the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs met at The Henry Ford to discuss the Fiscal Year 2012 grant process, discretionary requests and their strategic plan.

This year’s grants will be a 9-month project, running from January through September of 2012. Grant guidelines will be available the second week of August, with October 3rd being the deadline for POP’s and mini-grant applications.

As you may know, the Council is now requiring POP’s applicants to have two of their most recent year-end financial statements entered into the Michigan Cultural Data Project (CDP) to help demonstrate their economic impact. However, while requiring CDP, the Council voted to approve a plan to reduce application paperwork by instead using portions of the CDP. This year, applicants will not have to complete a budget and economic impact form because that information will be provided through data collected in the CDP.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. If you have any questions regarding MCACA grants please feel free to contact Carolyn Damstra at 517-241-4011 or damstrac@michigan.org.

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

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