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Advocacy |
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But arts advocacy isn't something that can be done for you--it requires your involvement to get these important messages out! Read on to find out what you can do to advocate for the arts! Arts Advocacy Day
Arts Advocacy Day Every year, hundreds of art advocates gather at the Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day to show their legislators that arts funding is important to their communities. This is an opportunity to meet and network with artists and art supporters from around the state while showing your passion for the arts to legislators. We'd love to help you get involved. One MRAC grantee wrote to us after the first Advocacy Day that she attended, “Just wanted to thank you for holding my hand and talking me into heading to the Capitol…Our organization was the only one from our [legislative] district so it was very clear that our presence was important.” For more information about Arts Advocacy Day click here. Arts Alert and Desktop Lobbyist While Arts Advocacy Day happens only once a year, legislation and important events that can affect arts organizations happen all year. Stay up to date and involved by subscribing to Arts Alert. This newsletter from Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) will keep you informed with the latest news on what is happening at the at the State Capitol, in Congress, and in the arts community. Also try MCA’s Desktop Lobbyist tool—an easy way for you to communicate your support of the arts with your elected representatives. For the past three years, MRAC has invited first round Community Arts grant recipients from Anoka, Carver, Dakota, suburban Hennepin, suburban Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties to meet with their legislators at a "Big Check" event around the time the legislative session gets under way. These events are opportunities for arts groups in communities surrounding the Twin Cities to demonstrate the importance of the arts, and to be photographed with legislators in attendance. Grantees have enjoyed meeting with their legislators and benefited from local press regarding the event. According to one grantee, “We have gotten some wonderful PR opportunities from the publicity you generated over our Community Arts award [through the Big Check event]. MRAC also asks their grant recipients to thank their legislators for all MRAC grants and to display the MRAC logo in their print materials. We believe it is important for state representatives and community art supporters to see the positive impact arts funding has in our region. Download the MRAC logo for use in your arts related print materials. Right or Command click on the logo format you prefer and select either "save target as", "save link file as", or "save file to downloads". Then open the file with your preferred photo or graphics program. MRAC logo color eps file MRAC logo color jpg file (Dimensions: 195 x 178 pixels; resolution 72) MRAC logo color tif file (Dimensions: 195 x 178 pixels; resolution 72) MRAC logo color gif file (Dimensions: 195 x 178 pixels; resolution 72) We are very excited about the passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment! Thank you to all who assisted with spreading the word, and voting Yes for Minnesota. All of your efforts are greatly appreciated...and, they worked! The grassroots efforts and support of so many people concerned about the environment, wildlife habitat, parks, trails and the arts working in harmony across the state over the past few months really paid off. Now there is a lot of planning and work to be done to prepare for the distribution of these additional sales tax dollars, which will begin to be collected in July 2009. We anticipate that funds will become available beginning some time between July 2010 and July 2011. During the upcoming legislative session, the legislature will determine how the new money will be channeled. Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is advocating for 50% of the new money to be allocated to the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils. We will keep you informed as we learn more details in 2009. Meanwhile, we will be seeking your input as we plan for future funding and services. The Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and 11 Regional Arts Councils (RACs) are currently engaged in a statewide arts needs assessment process. By the time the sales tax revenues are allocated, the MSAB and RACs will have a solid strategic plan for the arts in the state. For now, the MSAB and RACs distribute about $10 million annually. The additional sales tax revenue could increase that amount by as much as three times. A recent economic impact study shows that the return on investment in the arts is $11 for every $1 spent! The arts are a billion-dollar industry in Minnesota annually, which also could triple. Keep watching our website for updates on when and how new funds will be allocated. We hope you will get involved and actively help us support the arts and we thank you for all that you do! |
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