The U.S. House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $2.5 million increase for the National Endowment for the Arts in its 2011 spending bill. Chairman Jim Moran (D-VA), a longtime champion of arts and culture, proposed an increase for the agency despite a spending freeze on federal discretionary funds and a lower budget request by the administration. This increase would bring the NEA’s budget to $170 million. In his statement, Chairman Moran acknowledged that, “the increase recognizes the value we place, as a nation, on our artistic and cultural heritage.”
The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the NEA is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.
On Arts Advocacy Day 2010, a panel of witnesses spoke before the Appropriations Subcommittee calling for a significant increase in funding for the NEA. Video from the hearing is available here. Thanks to grassroots advocacy like this, we’re seeing great changes being made for the arts.
The 2011 Interior Appropriations bill will go to full committee and then to the full House of Representatives for consideration and we need to continue to put pressure on the Senate to match this funding level. Please send a message to your members of Congress telling them to support this funding increase.
Additionally, you can participate in Virginians for the Arts’ initiative to engage all 140 members of the state legislature in face-to-face dialog on the importance of public arts funding by visiting them online or setting up an appointment with an advocacy organizer.
