Arts Action Alert- President's Budget Released

President Obama today released the final details of his FY 2010 budget
request to Congress which includes the nation's cultural agencies and
programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute for Museums and Library
Services (IMLS), and the Department of Education's Arts in Education
program. Write your members of Congress and tell them to support
funding for these cultural agencies:
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /KYICKLIUWD/ 3311283706

As Americans for the Arts President & CEO Robert Lynch noted in a
press statement, "The president's proposed funding of $161 million
would take the NEA to its highest funding level in 15 years and will
help continue the upward trend of budgetary growth that Congress
established several years ago. In contrast to the previous
administration, this year's budget includes funding for the Arts in
Education program at the Department of Education at $38.16 million. We
hope that Congress will build on these initial budget requests to
secure even higher funding levels to address the needs of the arts and
arts education community."
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /HNKGKLIUWE/ 3311283706

On Arts Advocacy Day, artists Wynton Marsalis, Linda Ronstadt and Josh
Groban joined Americans for the Arts and over 550 arts advocates from
around the country to testify on Capitol Hill and to meet with
congressional leaders to request $200 million for the NEA and $53
million for arts education. These requests are just some of the
legislative priorities for the nonprofit arts community in 2009:
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /ECXOKLIUWF/ 3311283706

A breakdown of the President's budget request is as follows:

Federally Funded Arts Program: FY 2009 Enacted Appropriations (in
millions); FY 2010 President's Budget Request (in millions)

*National Endowment for the Arts: $155, $161

*National Endowment for the Humanities: $155, $161

*Institute of Museum and Library Services: $274.8**, $266
**includes $11 million in Congressional earmarks

*U.S. Dept. of Education's Arts in Education: $38.1, $38.1

Next Steps
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 support funding for arts and culture
through the NEA and increase funding for arts in education programs. We
have provided you with a customizable letter, as well as several
talking points to help you craft your message. We recommend you add
your own thoughts and stories about why the arts are important to you
and your community.
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /JSPTKLIUWG/ 3311283706

Please help us continue this important work by becoming an official
member of the Arts Action Fund. Play your part by joining the Arts
Action Fund today -- it's free and simple:
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