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    • Letter to the Editor: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009

    Posted on | February 6, 2009 | No Comments

    I’ve blogged about “Why You Should Support the Arts” – but in light of recent media attacks on arts funding (see below), I thought it wise to bring “the facts” to the attention of Houston’s news people … so I wrote the following and submitted it to KTRK, KHOU, KPFT, Houston Chronicle, and Houston Press:

    Dear [Media Rep],

    As a fan and active participant in Greater Houston’s diverse cultural community, I want to bring to your attention the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, being considered by Congress right now.

    $50 million dollars for the arts hangs in the balance as a growing number of media negatively portray the arts funding included in the House version of the bill. These ill-informed statements include:

    • “True to form, Congress has loaded the [bill] with hundreds of billions in wasteful spending. The bill includes $650 million for digital TV coupons, $140 million to study the atmosphere and $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. None of these proposals would create jobs or boost our economy. They’re just old-fashioned waste.” - Op-ed in the Indianapolis Star
    • “The National Endowment for the Arts, for example, is in line for $50 million, increasing its total budget by a third. The unemployed can fill their days attending abstract-film festivals and sitar concerts.” -National Review Editorial
    • “I just think putting people to work is more important than putting more art on the wall of some New York City gallery frequented by the elite art community.” [U.S. Rep Jack] Kingston said. “Call me a sucker for the working man.” - Congressional Quarterly report

    What they fail to recognize is that nonprofit arts organizations contribute to our economy and business community—employing people locally, purchasing goods and services within the community, and helping market our city’s cultural vitality to potential corporate employer, relocating employees, and touring visitors.  In fact, these organizations support more full-time jobs than those in accounting, public safety officers, and even lawyers, and just slightly fewer than elementary school teachers.

    In a report released in mid-January, the National Governor’s Association stated:

    Arts and culture are important to state economies. Arts and culture-related industries, also known as “creative industries,” provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases.

    There are approximately 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations, which spend $63.1 billion annually. Without an economic stimulus for the nonprofit arts industry, experts expect about 10% of these organizations (ranging
    from large arts institutions like museums and orchestras to small community-based organizations in suburban, urban and rural areas) to shut their doors in 2009 – a loss of 260,000 jobs.

    According to Americans for the Arts, a $50 million investment to the National Endowment for the Arts will provide critical funding to save 14,422 jobs from being lost in the U.S. economy. This is based on the ability of the NEA to leverage $7 in additional support through local, state and private donations, for every $1 in NEA support.

    As Congress considers the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the arts and culture sector must be included. The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities. They enhance community development; spur
    urban renewal; attract new businesses; draw tourism dollars; and create an environment that attracts skilled, educated workers and builds a robust 21st century workforce.

    I respectfully ask that you to consider the importance of the arts to our community – and the importance of the arts community to Greater Houston’s quality of life – and help raise public awareness and education for this issue by addressing it in your editorial.

    Thank you for your time and consideration.

    If you’d like to write your own letter to the media, PLEASE do so at the Americans for the Arts website. Thanks for your support! 

    Category: arts
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