Draft Legislative Letter

I urge you to support an appropriation for Grants to the Arts of $10.59 million in the final General Appropriations Bill for FY 2015-16.  This line item reached its peak funding in 2001 at $15.4 million and has never fully recovered from the 47% cut this line item has received since 2009. In FY 13-14, the PCA awarded 1350 grants which reached every county in Pennsylvania, serving rural and urban communities and impacting schools and businesses.

An increase of $2 million to the Grants to the Arts line item in the General Appropriations bill for FY 2015-16 could help the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) fund:

• Additional artists’ residencies in schools
• Expansion of the Creative Aging project, strengthening the collaboration between the PCA and the Department of Aging
• Revival of Picture PA – travelling visual arts exhibits
• Increasing grants for general operating support to nonprofit arts organizations and programs
• Collaboration with  the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs on developing quality arts programming at veterans’ facilities

Nonprofit arts organizations in Pennsylvania contribute to the development and economic growth of communities statewide.  Each year this sector generates $2.55 billion in economic activity and supports 81,000 full-time equivalent jobs and produces $1.8 billion in household income.  This industry also returns $360 million to state and local government in taxes and fees.  Studies at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrate how arts, culture, and heritage programs increasingly revitalize distressed neighborhoods, connect rural communities, and build a sense of belonging across racial and class lines.

Once again, I urge you to support Grants to the Arts funding at $10.59 million for Fiscal Year 2015-16.  By supporting this level of funding, you will maintain the PCA’s ability to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to quality arts programming.  I appreciate your attention to this request and hope I can count on your support.

Sincerely,