Support Arts and Culture in the FY10 Federal Budget!

On May 7, 2009, President Obama released his FY 2010 budget which included funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education and other arts-related programs. The budget proposes a $6 million increase for the National Endowment for the Arts, to $161 million which 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 Arts in Education program at the Department of Education at $38.16 million.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to urge you to support President Obama's proposed FY10 arts and cultural budget items, which include essential funding for 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.

These agencies contribute to the development and economic growth of communities nationwide through countless grant programs that are a sound investment. According to Americans for the Arts, the nonprofit arts industry generates $166.2 billion annually in economic activity, supports 5.7 million full-time equivalent jobs and returns $12.6 billion to the federal government in income taxes.

In Pennsylvania, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's 2008 Portfolio found that visits to cultural organizations in Southeastern Pennsylvania total over 15 million, or four visits a year per resident - not even including parks. These organizations provide over 19,000 jobs, and have been a valuable asset to the creative growth of communities in the region. Even in these tough economic times, the Greater Philadelphia arts community continues to flourish.

Arts and culture are also an essential part of a child's education - the No Child Left Behind Act recognizes the arts as a core academic subject, making them eligible for inclusion in broad categories such as teacher training, school reform, and technology. Most importantly, the collection of research described in Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development finds that learning in the arts may be uniquely able to boost learning and achievement for young children, students from economically disadvantaged circumstances, and students needing remedial instruction. That is particularly important in the city of Philadelphia.

I hope you will support President Obama's commitment to the arts in the FY10 budget, and recognize their role in our nation's heritage and industry.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 08, 2009