Dear Member Letters

8/2/2019 Dear Member Letters

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April 17, 2012

Dear Member of Congress:

Americans for the Arts represents a network of more than 200,000 organizational and individual members andstakeholders across the country. Together, all of us are all dedicated to serving local communities and creatingopportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.

As the national host of Arts Advocacy Day , Americans for the Arts is joined by other national arts,humanities, and civic organizations, representing thousands of cultural organizations in every state, city, andtown to urge the 112 th Congress to support legislation promoting the arts and the jobs they create and sustain inyour district and state. Full details of our congressional requests are outlined under the Issue Briefs tab in thisCongressional Arts Handbook. Below are a few of our priority issues:

Federal Cultural Agencies: We ask you to support a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment forthe Arts (NEA) . This figure would enable the NEA to maintain its core programs, including an increase for thecommunity development initiative, Our Town. We also ask Congress to support an appropriation of at least $35million for the Office of Museum Services within the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Arts Education: We ask you to support an appropriation of $30 million to fund the Arts in Education programsof the U.S. Department of Education s Office of Innovation and Improvement. We call on the educationcommittees to conduct dedicated hearings on how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation.

Tax Legislation: We urge you to cosponsor legislation allowing artists to take a fair-market value deduction forcontributions of their own work to museum, libraries, and cultural institutions. We also ask you preserveincentives for charitable giving. including tax deductibility and the IRA Rollover allowing tax-freedistributions from individual retirement accounts to increase charitable giving. Finally we call on you to rejectany attempts to create a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits, potentially reducing incentives for charitable giftsto arts and culture organizations compared to other partners with the nonprofit community.

We thank you for supporting all of the issues included in this Congressional Arts Handbook on behalf of thecreative and his toric work of Americas cultural organizations.

Sincerely ,

Robert L. Lynch Narric RomePresident and CEO Senior Director of Federal Affairs & Arts Education


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A L L I A N C E O FA R T I S T S C O M M U N I T I E S

255 South Main StreetProvidence, Rhode Island 02903

tel 401.351.4320fax 401.351.4507

[email protected]

oard of Trustees

Wayne Lawsonhair hio Arts Council (emeritus)he Ohio State University

ason Kalajainenice-Chair x-Bow

tephanie L. Olmstedecretary

aul Hoganreasurer

uth Davisuth Davis Associates

ara Jane DeHoff

avid Fraherrts Midwest

inda Goldinghe Reservoir

sther Grimm3Arts

manda Kiknstitute for Sustainableiving, Art & Natural Design

avid Macyhe MacDowell Colony

inda Marston-Reidutchess County Artsouncil

unter OHanianMassachusetts College of

rt & Design

ruce Rodgersermitage Artistetreat

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ava Thomasrtist

an San Wong

an Francisco Artsommission

aitlin Strokoschxecutive Director

April 17, 2012

Dear Member of Congress,

The Alliance of Artists Communities is pleased to be a National Co-Sponsor of ArtsAdvocacy Day 2012. As the professional association for artists residency programs acrossthe United States, the Alliance operates on the premise that support for the cultivation ofnew art and ideas is essential to human progress. Artists residency programs serve asresearch-and-development labs for the arts, providing artistsincluding visual artists,writers, composers, choreographers, filmmakers, and othersa critical opportunity toaddress the most challenging issues we face today.

On behalf of our member organizations, providing more than $40 million in services toover 15,000 artists each year, we urge you to support increased funding for our nationscultural agencies : the National Endowment for the Arts; the National Endowment for theHumanities; and the Office of Museum Services. The core funding programs of thesecultural agencies are critical to nurturing the growth and artistic excellence of thousands oforganizations and artists in every corner of the country. While the federal investment in thearts is modest, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generates nearly $30 billion ingovernment revenue annually. The arts sector stretches every public dollar to leverageadditional funding, invest in jobs, and support our communities.

Additionally, many artists residency programs include cultural exchange as a core part oftheir missions. Exchange among artists from different cultures and backgrounds, as well asconnection of foreign guest artists to other community members, is critical to the vitality oAmerican culture. The need for international connections on a people-to-people basistoward greater diplomacy is more important now than ever. For these reasonswe stronglyask that you support improving the visa process for foreign guest artists at U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services .

Through these measures we as a nation will maintain our position as a global cultural leadand build a lasting legacy for the next generation. Thank you for your service and for youconsideration.

Sincerely,

Caitlin StrokoschExecutive Director


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AATE 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814 www.aate.com

April 17, 2012


The American Alliance for Theatre & Education is proud to be a National Co-sponsor of National Arts AdvocacyDay. On behalf of our membershiptheatre artists, scholars and educatorsAATE would like to extend our gratitude to the members of Congress who support theatre and education as well as the entire arts communityin the United States.

The benefits of early and solid education in the arts, particularly theatre arts, in producing a well-rounded,cultural society are clear but emphasis on creativity, critical thinking and collaborative skills especially apply toall fields in the 21st century workforce. All across America, the members of AATE work to bring theatre into thelives of young people in order to enhance creativity, teamwork, empathy, self-discipline and problem-solvingskills. We also teach young people about the joy that theatre can bring into their lives and the deep satisfaction

that comes from authentic self-expression and interpersonal communication.We urge members of Congress and the administration to support theatre and all the arts for and with youngpeople through the following actions:

Support a budget for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at $155.5 million in the FY 2013Interior Appropriations bill.

Support a funding level of $30 million for the Arts in Education programs within the U.S.Department of Education in the FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.

Encourage the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) andretain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects, and strengthen equitable access toarts learning.

Support public/private partnerships between theatres and schools

Provide funding for the Department of Educations efforts in arts education research with anemphasis on the art of theatre

Support dissemination of information pertaining to the effects of theatre education on studentdevelopment

Improve national data collection and research in theatre education

We encourage Congress to join us in bringing the theatre arts to all Americans by supporting these initiatives;our organization is standing at the ready to assist anyone who would need our resources and expertise.

Sincerely,

Lynne Kingsley Daniel A. Kelin IIExecutive Director President, AATE Board of Directors


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1300 Gendy Street For t Worth, TX 76107 T: 817-732-3177 Toll Free: 866-OUR-AACT (687-2228) F: 817-732-3178

[email protected] www.aact.org

April 17, 2012


The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012,and proud to be so. For several years AACT has participated in this most basic right of civil discourse, bringing toyou, our elected officials, our concerns and desires.

AACT represents the interests of an estimated 7,000 plus community theatres throughout the United States and aregion made up entirely of U.S. Military overseas. AACT provides networking, resources and support for theatresfound in almost every corner of the country, from small towns to metropolitan areas. This constituency has acombined budget of over $1 billion and includes some 1.5 million volunteers creating over 46,000 productions per year to entertain an audience of 86 million people.

Though community theatres are known for incorporating numerous volunteers in their activities, they also provideemployment for a growing number of theatre professionals. They drive economic activity through tourism initiativesand local purchases. They serve as a focal point for the exchange of ideas and the fostering of empathy in anincreasingly crowded and discordant society. Community theatres entertain, educate and inspire their local citizenry.AACT is there to help them improve the quality of their productions through the national AACTFest program,facilitate the securing of rights through partnerships with publishing companies, and save money through severaldiscount programs. And AACT is there to provide a voice for them on a national level.

Collectively, we urge you to recognize the undeniable importance of the creative arts, and to make decisions based on the understanding that Arts matter. Study the data that shows the Creative Industries are an economicengine, that arts education is one of the saving graces for our young people, and that without the proper investmentfrom our public officials, we will not attain the goals we all desire.

Specifically, AACT urges you to support funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, improve the visa process for foreign guest artists, and make permanent the IRA Charitable Rollover provisions that will help our donors ensure our futures.

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to our country. We stand ready to help you in the days andmonths ahead.

Sincerely,

Linda M. LeePresident


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AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS

______________________________________________________

1575 EYE STREET NW, SUITE 400WASHINGTON, DC 20005202.289.1818

FAX 202.289.6578

April 17, 2012


The American Association of Museums (AAM) is pleased to be a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012.

AAM is proud to represent the full range of our nation's museums includingaquariums, arboretums, archaeological museums, art museums, botanical gardens,childrens museums, culturally specific museums, historic sites, history museums,maritime museums, military museums, natural history museums, nature centers,planetariums, presidential libraries, science and technology centers, zoologicalparks, and other specialty museums along with professional staff and volunteerswho work for and with museums.

We respectfully request that Congress:

Fund the IMLS Office of Museum Services We support the DearColleague letters circulated by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Reps. Paul Tonko,Leonard Lance, and Louise Slaughter supporting at least $35 million for theIMLS Office of Museum Services.

Invest in Museums as Essential Community Assets We urge Congressto consider the ways in which museums are educational and economic

engines: spending over $2 billion on educational programming, employing400,000 workers, pumping $20 billion into local economies, and spurringvaluable tourism dollars. Museums are also offering special programming forveterans, persons with memory loss, children on the autism spectrum, andmuch more.

Protect Charitable Giving Incentives We oppose any effort to restrictthe deductibility of charitable gifts. Typically, museums rely upon charitabledonations for more than one-third of their operating costs.

At a time when communities are stretched thin, museums are filling the gaps onmany fronts. To learn more about museums, please visitwww.speakupformuseums.org .

Sincerely,

Ford W. Bell, DVMPresident
http://www.speakupformuseums.org/http://www.speakupformuseums.org/http://www.speakupformuseums.org/


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2000 Century Plaza Suite 108 10632 Patuxent Parkway

Columbia, MD 21044-3263www.ADTA.org

April 17, 2012

Dear Members of Congress:The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) is proud to be a National Co-Sponsor of ArtsAdvocacy Day 2012. The ADTA has approximately 1,200 members. Our professional membersenrich the United States by providing opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, backgroundsand cultures to experience the healing benefits of movement and dance.

Dance/Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional,cognitive, physical, and social integration of the individual. Dance/Movement therapists usenonverbal communication for assessment and intervention with clients. They are employed in avariety of mental and physical health care settings. They provide individual and group therapy forclients with issues such as autism, PTSD, ADHD, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, learningdisabilities and Alzheimers disease . In addition to clinical work, they are active in publishing,research, supervision, professional development training and teaching. Dance/movementtherapists have extensive training and are graduates from Masters level programs across thenation. Dance/movement therapy was recognized as a counseling specialty by the National Boardof Certified Counselors (NBCC) in 2000.

We urge Congress to:

Request funding for creative arts in healthcare research within the federal agenciesinvolved with the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force, including theNational Institutes of Health, Administration on Aging, and the Department of Education

Designate funding for demonstration projects utilizing cost-effectivenessdance/movement therapy interventions for military members and veterans diagnosed withPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other conditions.

Support and seek, through Dear Colleague Letters, clarification from the Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapiesinterventions within existing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS)

We would be happy to serve as a resource to you on these issues and specifically on the use of dance/movement therapy as an important treatment option.

Sincerely,

Sherry Goodill, Ph.D., BC-DMT , NCC, LPC Corinna Brown MA, MS, BC-DMT, LCATPresident Government Affairs Chair


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American Music Therapy Association8455 Colesville Rd., Ste. 1000 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Tel. (301) 589-3300 Fax (301) 589 -5175 www.musictherapy.org

April 17, 2012


The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) is proud to serve as a National Co-Sponsorof Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Representing over 5,000 professionally trained music therapists,AMTA is committed to the mission of advancing public awareness of music therapy benefits andincreasing access to quality music therapy services. With over 60 years of clinical history in theUnited States, board certified music therapists work across the lifespan serving client groups inhealthcare and educational settings.

Through the remarkable recovery of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords over the past year, wehave witnessed the incredible benefit that medical rehabilitation offers those who haveexperienced injury, illness, and disability. Music therapy played a role in the Congresswomansrecovery and is a cost-effective, efficient, professional therapy that can address multiple domainsin one session, e.g., communication, motor, and cognitive skills. These health and economicbenefits of music therapy interventions go beyond just the medical rehabilitation setting. Musictherapy treatments produce positive outcomes in various health and education programs for anestimated one million Americans each year. Research demonstrates music therapy can reduceclient anxiety associated with medical procedures, reduce medication costs, increase efficiencyand effectiveness of staff interventions and procedures, and improve client quality of life.

To improve access to these cost efficient services in healthcare and education settings, we urgeyour support of the following:

Direct federal agencies involved in the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force to support research focused on how the arts affect the health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan.

Designate funding through Department of Defense, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs forDemonstration Projects for veterans and active military to access cost-effective creativearts in healthcare treatment and programming.

Support Dear Colleague Letter seeking clarification from the Centers for Medicare andMedicaid Services (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapies interventionswithin existing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS).

Thank you for your support of all Arts programs in America, especially those programs andservices which improve the quality of healthcare for persons with illnesses and disabilities.

Sincerely,

Andrea Farbman, Ed.D. Judy Simpson, MT-BCExecutive Director Director of Government Relations


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1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036 | Telephone 888.820.2787 | Fax 202.833.1543 | www.artspresenters.org

April 17, 2012


The Association of Performing Arts Presenters is pleased to be a national co-sponsor of ArtsAdvocacy Day. As the national service organization for the field of arts presenting, APAPrepresents the nations leading performing arts centers and performance facilities, artist agenciesand managers, self-representing artists, as well as national consulting practices and vendors inthe field. The presenting and touring fields serve more than six million people each week andhave a combined annual budget of more than $9 billion.

Additionally, the performing arts are an economic catalyst in every community, generating$166.2 billion nationally in economic activity each year. The orchestra hall in your district, theauditorium at your local college and whatever new arts projects are taking place right now inyour region are part of this significant economic activity.

This spring, we ask you to support the performing arts in America by taking action in several keyareas that enhance and strengthen our ability to improve the arts and cultural infrastructure andofferings in communities across the country, such as the following:

Increase funding for the State Department Exchange Programs and encourage additionalresources to the Professional Exchanges Grant Program and the Performing ArtsInitiative;

Support resolution, including artist input, between the FAA and airlines for a uniformcarry-on instrument policy for musicians;

Seek solutions that protect intellectual property online and mitigate the ability of websitesto profit from infringement;

Support the creation of an Artist Corps within the Corporation for National &Community Service, as called for in the Serve America Act ;

Support a budget of $155 million for the NEA in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations billto widen citizen access to the arts and to advance American creativity and innovation;

Support efforts to assure that the FCC retains the authority to promote access andinnovation on the Internet for the benefit of creators and the nonprofit arts sector.

Thank you for your help on Capitol Hill and your year-round support for the performing arts,which are so crucial to building a strong economy and to the health and well-being of communities across America.

Mario Garcia DurhamPresident and CEO


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April 17, 2012


Chamber Music America (CMA), the national organization for the chamber music profession, is pleasedto serve as a co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. CMA serves a vast membership of more than 6,000musicians, ensembles, concert presenters, festivals, composers, training institutions, managers, musicbusinesses, and enthusiasts who create, perform, and present numerous styles of small-ensemble music,from Western classical/contemporary to world music and jazz.

Chamber Music America serves as the hub of this national, artist-centered community by offering directfinancial support through our grant programs and by providing ongoing career-development services,professional resources and information. Chamber musicians belong, in large part, to the nationsfreelance workforce and, like other self-employed workers, face such concerns as lack of health insuranceand sporadic earnings from seasonal or project-specific employment. Concert presenters, too, arechallenged; like most other small businesses, they have few available lines of credit and face high healthinsurance costs for staff.

On behalf of the national chamber music field, Chamber Music America respectfully urges Congress to:

support a budget of $155 million for the NEA in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations bill.Foundations and corporations have dramatically reduced their funding for the arts over the pastfour years. Funding at the national level is essential to the vitality and longevity of the culturalsector.

increase funding by $15 million for the Cultural Programs Division of the State DepartmentsOffice of Citizen Exchanges in the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill.Chamber groups would not only benefit from the increased residency, performance, andmentoring opportunities that this funding would provide, but would be outstanding ambassadors

for American culture and cultural exchange.

preserve incentives for charitable giving by protecting tax deductibility and reinstating the IRARollover. Lawmakers have proposed cutting back or eliminating the income tax deduction forgifts to 501(c)(3) organizations, a measure that will lead inevitably to decreased giving. Criticalfunding for arts non-profits is already threatened in the FY 2013 budget; we urge you to rejectproposals to discriminate against arts and culture by reducing tax deductibility of gifts.

seek solutions that protect intellectual property on the internet and impede malicious websitesfrom profiting from infringement. Congress must employ arts professionals and work with themto arrive at policies that will protect artists works.

Chamber Music America encourages you to support policies and legislation that will benefit thethousands of chamber music professionals whose work impacts the cultural landscape of America.

Cordially,

Margaret M. LioiChief Executive Officer

305 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001-6008(212) 242-2022 phone (212) 242-7955 fax

www.chamber-music.org


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April 17, 2012


As the national service organization for not-for-profit, professional dance and a National CoSponsor ofArts Advocacy Day 2012, Dance/USA urges you to support federal policy that will strengthen the arts in

America. Founded in 1982, Dance/USAs membership represents the breadth and diversity of thisbrilliant art form. Currently, we speak for more than 450 ballet, modern, ethnic, jazz, culturally specific,and tap companies, artist managers, dance service organizations, presenters, and the thousands ofdancers, trustees, administrative staff, educators, volunteers and audiences committed to thesemember institutions.

On behalf of Dance/USAs membership and those who serve the field, we encourage you to strengthen

federal support for the arts in the following ways:Support artistic excellence and access to the arts by supporting a budget of $155 million for theNational Endowment for the Arts;

Preserve charitable giving incentives, such as the charitable deduction and the IRA CharitableRollover, without which public access to the arts would be severely diminished; and rejectattempts to create a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits that discriminates against arts andculture by reducing tax deductibility of charitable gifts;

Improve student achievement by allocating $30 million for the Arts in Education programs at theU.S. Department of Education;

When reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), include the followingprovisions: retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning, reauthorize theArts in Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education, and conduct dedicatedhearings on how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation.

Encourage international cultural exchange by directing a minimum of $15 million for the CulturalPrograms Division of the State Departments Office of Citi zen Exchanges;

Enact legislation that will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reducethe total processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-relatedorganizations to a maximum of 45 days.

We encourage you to support funding and policies that continue to strengthen dance and theperforming arts in communities across the nation.

Sincerely,

Amy Fitterer Brandon Gryde

Executive Director Director of Government Affairs


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2343 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 Phone: 513.421.3900 Fax: 513.421.7077 Website: schooltheatre.org

Home of the International Thespian Society, Dramatics magazine, and Teaching Theatre journal

April 17, 2012


The Educational Theatre Association is proud to be a co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. EdTA, the professional organization for theatre education, works to ensure that theatre arts will be an essential

part of every students education. We represent over 4,870 professional members, 75,000 current studentmembers, and over 2,000,000 alumni student members in the United States.

Today we advocate for the arts, and we ask members of Congress to consider the value of arts education to thewell-rounded education of our children. In these challenging times, college and career readiness is not complete

without a comprehensive arts education. Your support is needed for the arts in our schools and society, and for their role in developing the 4Cs of creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication, along with a broad range of life and career skills needed for our twenty-first century workforce.

We ask you to support the following actions as described in the issue briefs that follow in this handbook: Appropriate $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. Appropriate $30 million for the Arts in Education programs in the FY 2013. Reauthorize the Arts in Education programs in the U.S Department of Education. Retain the Arts in Education programs as a distinct grant competition. Retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning in ESEA. Improve the U.S. Department of Educations national data collection and research regarding what students

know and are able to do in all the arts, and the conditions under which arts teaching and learning is

conducted. Require states to report annually on student access and participation in all core academic subjects. Improve student success in school, work, and life by strengthening arts education in provisions relating to

extended learning, teaching effectiveness, school turnaround, charter schools, and student assessment. Conduct dedicated hearings on how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation. Set aside $17.5 million in any spectrum auction legislation to defray the cost to educational institutions and

performing arts organizations of moving wireless microphone operations in the broadcast spectrum

On behalf of the millions of theatre teachers, parents, students, and other supporters in our nation who believe thata portion of our tax dollars should be directed toward supporting our nation's cultural and educational initiatives,we encourage you to help establish a lasting legacy of the arts and humanities for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Julie Woffington James Palmarini Executive Director Director of Educational Policy


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April 17, 2012


Free Press is thrilled to be a national co-sponsor for Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Free Press is building anationwide movement for media that serve the public interest. Through education, organizing andadvocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, hard-hitting

journalism, open and affordable Internet service, and universal access to communications. We believe

all of these issues directly impact our nations cultural life.

The Internet has enabled a new generation of artists to participate more fully in the creation of culture.It has broken down barriers to distribution and facilitated an explosion of content online from all cornersof the artistic community. Independent musicians, filmmakers, photographers, authors and other artistscan access an international audience and distribute their work without obtaining permission fromindustry gatekeepers. And community theaters and arts spaces can sell tickets and promote their eventsonline.

All of this is possible thanks to the Internets open architecture. But threats to Network Neutralitycontinue today. Congress should pay close attention to all policy matters that threaten the openInternet. The loss of Network Neutrality or the weakening of existing rules would cripple creative

communities and innovation.

Additionally, we believe public and community media are critical incubators for arts and culture. Fromthe unique programs these outlets air to the partnerships they create in local communities with artsorganizations, these institutions have long provided opportunities that commercial broadcasters havenot. Congress should substantially increase funding for all forms of noncommercial media, including the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting and its fund recipients.

We also urge Congress to pass the Community Access Preservation Act (H.R. 1746) to protect publicaccess, educational and governmental (PEG) channels. These noncommercial cable channels givecommunity members access to media technology so they can create programming and produce content.

Many PEG channels also provide locally oriented arts and cultural programming something rarelyfound on commercial television channels.

Sincerely,

Matt WoodPolicy DirectorFree Press and the Free Press Action Fund


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April 1 7 , 201 2


Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day201 2 . FMC is a national nonprofit education, research and advocacy organization formusicians. For more than a decade, FMC has documented historic and emergingtrends in the music industry, while bringing together a wide range of stakeholders including the artists themselves to engage in discussion about shared challengesand opportunities.

FMC believes that artists must play a direct role in achieving a sustainable creativeand cultural ecosystem. Our organization seeks to give musicians a voice in thedebates that affect their livelihoods through informed, direct engagement.

To achieve a functional and resilient 21st century creative community, we urge Congressto:

Expand affordable, competitive and accessible broadband service to communities acrossAmerica, so that creative entrepreneurs can participate in a legitimate digital marketplace

Ensure Americas spectrum resources leave room for creative expression andinnovation

Expand and protect non-commercial radio as a means of giving local communities avoice on the public airwaves

Examine the role infrastructure and investment plays in local creative economies toenhance Americas cultural practitioners chances at success

Consider the impact of intellectual property enforcement efforts on creators

In an evolving, technology-driven marketplace, it is crucial to consider the perspectivesof creators themselves. FMC looks forward to being of service to you on these and otherissues.

Sincerely,

Lissa Rosenthal, Executive DirectorCasey Rae-Hunter, Deputy Director


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4055 21 st Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119 (206) 624-2312 Fax (206) 624-5568 www.giarts.org

April 17, 2012


Grantmakers in the Arts is a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. As such, we areproud to support a creative America through our association of members representing private andcommunity foundations, corporate foundations and giving programs, and state and localgovernmental agencies. Our members believe that artists and arts organizations offer a clear path tocreativity and innovation by educating Americans about democracy and our diverse cultures and byexpressing what it means to be unique individuals and to be Americans.

From the beginning of this country, private and public partnerships have played a critical role in building a strong America with environments that offer creative opportunities for all people. Ourcommunities are enhanced by the combined efforts of government and the private funding sector.Each entity has their own role and mission and we are most successful when working in tandem tomake the arts accessible and enriching for all Americans. Nowhere in the nonprofit sector has thepartnership of public and private dollars been so successful than in the nonprofit arts sector.

Through all forms of music, dance, theatre, and visual and media arts, our history and ourinnovation in design and culture come alive. Artists lead our celebrations and challenge ourconventions. Without public and private support to nurture and train children in creativity and self-expression, Americas creative edge will disappear. Policy and financial incentives that support artseducation in every public school are essential. Reading and math are tools to use in life. Artistic andcultural understanding molds a way of life for us as human beings.

Thank you for your public service.

Sincerely,

Janet BrownExecutive Director


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PO Box 110168 Bradenton, Florida 34211 www.icfad.org 941.753.0080

April 17, 2012


On behalf of the 400+ members of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD), Iextend greetings and express this organizations pleasure in being a co -sponsor of the ArtsAdvocacy Day 2012. ICFAD is the only organization focusing exclusively on issues thatimpact the arts in higher education and, while international in title, is primarily an organizationof United States institutions.

As you know, the arts benefit every American, and thus we urge you to continue to fund quality

arts experiences. These funds help state and local arts initiatives survive as philanthropicdollars are decreasing. Furthermore, they help create jobs and drive economic activity byleveraging modest but critical funds at the state and local level. This is certainly a part of thesolution to return to our former economic vitality.

For our children, the arts provide powerful tools for development, enabling them to seethemselves in a positive light, and to know what it means to create, to lead, and to be part of ateam. All schools should offer a quality educational program that engages the students insome form of art making as a means of developing the imagination, creativity and innovation.Funding that you provide to the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment forthe Humanities, and the United States Department of Education has great impact in allowing

schools to offer these important experiences to all.

We pledge to continue to develop the great wealth of talent available and to graduate the veryfinest artists and arts educators in the years ahead. We ask your help in continuing to improvethe future of the country through support of the arts infrastructure funding for the arts iscritical to the ultimate good health of this nation!

Cordially,

Raymond Tymas-JonesPresident


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April 17, 2012


On behalf of Americas orchestras, and as a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day ,the League of American Orchestras urges you to strengthen federal support for the arts.Supported by a network of managers, musicians, volunteers, and boards , Americas adult,youth, and college orchestras total more than 1,800 and exist in every state and territory, incities and rural areas alike. We request your support for policies and funding that willstrengthen the arts in communities nationwide:

Strengthen our nations cultural heritage and encourage private contributions to the artsby preserving and strengthening incentives for charitable giving and reinstating theopportunity for individuals to roll over their IRAs to charity without penalty. As 501(c)(3) taxexempt organizations, orchestras rely on the deductibility of private donations.

Promote creativity and public access to the arts by supporting $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. Grants awarded to orchestras by the NEA, and fundsadministered by state arts agencies, provide vital resources supporting music education forchildren and adults, expanding public access to performances, and fostering the creativeendeavors of contemporary classical musicians, composers, and conductors. NEA fundingboth directly supports local projects and also spurs critical giving from other sources likeprivate foundations, corporations, and individual contributors.

Prepare students with 21 st century skills by supporting $30 million for the Arts inEducation programs at the U.S. Department of Education and strengthening support for artseducation in the next Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As local partners in musiceducation, orchestras collaborate with schools to strengthen arts education opportunities,helping to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and imaginative capacity needed tosucceed.

Improve international cultural relations by passing legislation that will require U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reduce the total processing time for O andP petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations to a maximum of 45days. By inviting foreign musicians to perform, orchestras provide American audiences theopportunity to experience a diversity of musical talent, and encourage a supportive climatefor U.S. orchestras to perform abroad. We urge Congress to further improve internationalcultural exchange by supporting funding for the State Departments Cultural P rogramsDivision.

I encourage your support for policies and funding that strengthen the arts, orchestras, andthe communities they serve.

Sincerely,

Jesse RosenPresident & CEO


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Music for All, Inc.39 W. Jackson Pl Ste. 150Indianapolis, IN 46225800.848.2263 317.636.2263

April 17, 2012


Music for All is a proud National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Music for Alls mission isto create, provide and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all. As such, weare committed to maintaining and expanding the role of music and arts in scholastic education.

Music for All is one of the largest and most influential national music education organizations insupport of active music making. Over 300,000 participate in our programming each year. Since 1975,

we have been a national destination setting the standard for scholastic music ensemble performance

opportunities, combining our premier programming with awareness and advocacy about the valueand power of active music making.

Active participation in music and arts develops life and leadership skills, creativity and innovationnecessary to prepare young men and women for success in our global economy. Music for All worksto be a catalyst to ensure that every child across America has access and opportunity to participate inactive music making in their scholastic environment. We use our resources to provide nationalprograms that recognize and support music students' performance and success, offer music educatortraining and professional development, and deliver tools and resources to participants and theircommunities that will assist them in supporting music education by promoting awareness of music'simpact on student and human growth and achievement.

We strongly ask for your support of the following to ensure that music and arts education is a part of every childs core education:

Guarantee of music and arts in public education as a key component of academic andlifetime success for young people in a global economy.

Ensure that adequate funding is available for participatory, hands-on music and artseducation in public education.

Support new or reauthorized legislation and funding that recognizes the educational valueand provides access and equity to music and arts education for every child.

On behalf of all of the students, teachers, parents, alumni and supporters of Music for Allprogramming, we thank you for your thoughtful support of music and arts education for all.

Respectfully,

Eric L. Martin Nancy CarlsonPresident & CEO Executive Vice President


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April 17, 2012


NAMAC is a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. NAMAC is the national arts serviceorganization for the media arts whose members work in film, video, digital media and audio.

Our mission is to foster and fortify the culture and business of the independent media arts. Throughdialogue, collaboration, research and advocacy, we connect, organize and develop organizations.Our three hundred member organizations across the US serve and represent more than 400,000producers and artists who create over 285,000 programs that reach over 33 million viewers andaudiences annually.

To strengthen our national creative assets, we urge Congress to support the following:

Increase funding for the nations cultural agencies to ensure creative excellence throughoutour nation: $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, and $154 million for theNational Endowment for the Humanities.

Resist any attempt to lessen or eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcastingin the current fiscal year, FY2012 and FY2013, and to fund CPB at $460 million in 2014.

Pass the Community Access Preservation Act (H.R. 1746) that eliminates the federalrestriction on the use of local programming funds, ensures technical quality equal to thatavailable to commercial providers, and mandates that all providers delivering video via wiredservices be subject to the Cable Act.

Ensure broadband accessibility to all communities in America, including economicallydisenfranchised urban areas and all rural areas, so they may compete in the globalmarketplace. And in tandem with a robust national broadband plan, ensurenet neutrality for the internet so that it remains an open, available, and equitable pipeline forcurrent and future communication among all citizens.

As media becomes more pervasive in our culture, it is imperative that we protect the free flow ofideas and creative expression by providing support for media created in the public interest, and forvalues beyond only the commercial demands of the marketplace. It is there that we may alsodiscover true creative innovation, popular expression and pluralism. We invite you to visit ourwebsite at www.namac.org and see which NAMAC member organizations serve your communities.

Sincerely,

Jack WalshExecutive Director


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April 17, 2012


The National Art Education Association is pleased to be a National Co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day2012. The National Art Education Association (NAEA) advances visual arts education to fulfill humanpotential and promote global understanding. Founded in 1947, The National Art Education Association isthe leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. Members includeelementary, middle and high school visual arts educators, college and university professors, researchersand scholars, teaching artists, administrators and supervisors, art museum educators and universitystudents preparing to be art educators.

NAEA promotes art education through professional development, service, advancement of research,knowledge, and leadership. In order to fulfill this mission, NAEA provides expertise, training, andresources that support professional growth and leadership, helping members affect the quality of studentlearning in their local schools, communities, and states. The Association believes that all studentsdeserve a comprehensive, balanced and sequential program of instruction in the visual arts. Further, theAssociation believes that the art curriculum should be led and taught by teachers who are certified andqualified in the visual arts and designed to provide students with skills and knowledge in the arts inaccordance with national, state and local standards.

On behalf of the nations 90,000 professional visual arts educators , the National Art EducationAssociation offers the following recommendations:

Appropriate $30 million for the Arts in Education programs in the FY2013 Labor-HHS-Educationappropriations bill. The Arts in Education program is authorized under the Elementary and SecondaryEducation Act.In the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA):

Retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects, and strengthen equitable access toarts learning through the following actions:1. Require states to report annually on student access to, and participation in, all core academic

subjects.2. Improve student success in school, work, and life by strengthening arts education in

provisions relating to afterschool/extended learning, teaching effectiveness, schoolturnaround, charter schools, and student assessment.

3. Improve the U.S. Department of Educations national data collection and research regardingwhat students know and are able to do in the arts and the conditions for teaching andlearning in arts education.

4. Retain the Arts in Education program as a distinct grant competition. This federalcommitment to improving equitable access to arts education should not be compromised byconsolidation in appropriations . We urge Congress to carefully consider any majorrestructuring of the Arts in Education programs within the context of ESEA reauthorization.

Thank you for your interest and thoughtful consideration of these recommendations.

Sincerely,

Dr. F. Robert Sabol, NAEA President Deborah B. Reeve, EdDProfessor of Visual and Performing Arts Executive DirectorPurdue University, IN National Art Education Association


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April 17, 2012


The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, representing the state and special jurisdictionalgovernment arts agencies, urges you to support a budget for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)in FY2013 at $155 million.

Appropriations for the NEA at that level would enable the NEA to preserve citizen access to the cultural,educational, and economic benefits of the arts, to advance creativity and innovation, and improve accessto the arts for all Americans.

The range of activities funded by the NEA clearly demonstrates that the National Endowment for the Artsserves all Americans in all states and jurisdictions, in rural communities and in inner-cityneighborhoods. Through its programs, the NEA makes America a better place to live playing a role insustaining the organizations that produce and present the arts, enhancing the economy as well ascommunity life, and producing educational programs. With almost 2,300 grants awarded each year, theNEA connects millions of Americans with the best of our nations creative spirit.

The federal government, in partnership with state and local governments, private business and the nonprofit

sector, provides the infrastructure of support for the arts that is critical to the economic vitality of state and localcommunities and to our nations cultural well -being. NEA funds granted to state arts agencies ensure that everystate receives federal funds. Representing 40 percent of NEAs program dollars, gr ants to state arts agenciescombine with state legislative appropriations and other dollars to ensure that federal funding has an even greaterreach. In partnership with the NEA, state arts agencies in 2011awarded more than 22,000 grants to organizations,schools, and artists in nearly 5,000 communities across the United States, broadening access to the arts in eachstate and serving to strengthen the states arts infrastructure, through a combination of dire ct grants, technicalassistance and services.

We are encouraged that Congress has voted steadily in support of federal funds dedicated to the arts and we urgeCongress to continue its commitment to meet the real needs of Americans to broaden, deepen, and diversify theirparticipation in the arts.

Sincerely,

Jonathan KatzChief Executive Officer


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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DRAMA THERAPY

44365 Premier Plaza, Suite 220, Ashburn, VA 20147Ph. (888)) 416-7167 / Fx. (571) [email protected]

www.nadt.org

April 17, 2012

Dear Members of Congress,

The National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT) is proud to serve as a National Co-Sponsor of ArtsAdvocacy Day, 2012 . Drama therapists are masters degree professionals who integrate drama andpsychotherapy to facilitate emotional and physical healing and well-being. We teach life skills whichinclude goal setting, coping skills, problem solving, and the expression and processing of feelings.Drama therapy provides immediate on your feet treatment and learning through an active andexperiential approach.

Drama therapy benefits people from all walks of life, various ages, and stages of development. Theseinclude young children with emotional, physical and cognitive delays including autism, inner-city youth,

military personnel and their families dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),developmentally and mentally disabled persons, and older adults with Alzheimer and other dementiarelated illnesses.

Drama therapists work in state and federal facilities including Veterans Hospitals, behavior healthhospitals, prisons, substance abuse treatment centers, and schools and after-school programs, adult daycare centers, community centers, foster care and other social service agencies, nursing homes,corporations, faith centers, and private settings.

On this day of advocating for the Arts, we urge members of Congress to:

Direct federal agencies involved in the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force tosupport research focused on how the creative arts therapies affect the health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan

Designate funding through Department of Defense, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs forDemonstration Projects for veterans and active military to access cost-effective creative arts inhealthcare treatment and programming

Support Dear Colleague Letter seeking clarification from the Centers for Medicare and MedicaidServices (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapies interventions within existingProspective Payment Systems (PPS)

Drama therapists deliver cost-efficient and effective treatment to improve the quality of life for peopleacross America. Thank you for your support and consideration of our requests.

Sincerely,

President, NADT Board Government Affairs Chair, NADT Board


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1900 Association Drive Reston, VA 20191

703.476.3464www.aahperd.org/nda

[email protected]

April 17, 2012

I believe strongly that arts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation's leaders First Lady Michelle Obama


The National Dance Association (NDA), of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreationand Dance (AAHPERD), is honored to be a National Co-Sponsor and serve on the Legislative PlanningCommittee for Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Our membership of professionals and future professionals unitesa strong and growing network of educators, administrators, artists and researchers. NDA advocates theimportance of dance education as an art and as a creative, healthy lifestyle for all ages and abilities.

Arts = Jobs! On behalf of the members of the National Dance Association, we encourage the Congressto enact policy and funding initiatives that would provide broader access to arts in the communities weserve across this great nation. We urge the Congress:

The National Dance Association/AAHPERD along with other arts and educational organizations, areintegral parts of the business community, and generate $166.2 billion in economic activity every year,proving to our constituencies that the arts are an economic driver for our local communities and our nation.The National Dance Association thanks you for your support of these important arts programs. When ourcitizens have freedom to access the arts, we are assured economic and creative growth that benefits all.

Sincerely,Colleen Dean May Yoneyama Gwinn

Colleen Hearn Dean May Yoneyama GwinnNDA Administrator Arts Advocacy Legislative Committee Representative

To prepare students of the 21 st century, by enacting funding of $30 million for the Arts in Educationprograms within the U.S. Department of Education;To increase funding for creative arts in healthcare research within federal agencies involved with the Artsand Human Development Interagency Task Force, including the National Institutes of Health,Administration on Aging, and the Department of Education;To promote excellence in and public access to the arts, by approving $155 million in funding for theNational Endowment for the Arts;

To invest in the countrys cultural and artistic workforce, providing jobs to 5.7 million people, attractingbillions of dollars in tourism revenue, and returning $12.6 billion in federal income taxes annually boosting arts projects in Community Development Block Grants, revitalizing rural areas, inner cities, andpopulations struggling with poverty; and by supporting an Artists Corps under the Corporation for Nationaland Community Service;To support international cultural exchanges, by increasing funding by $10 million for the Performing ArtistsInitiative and other cultural exchange programs within the US Department of States Cultural ProgramsDivision; and by improving visa processing procedures for foreign guest artists;

To improve incentives for private charitable giving to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, by enactingthe Artist-Museum Partnership Act, to allow artists, choreographers and creators of original works todeduct the fair-market value of their works donated to nonprofit institutions; by supporting the IRACharitable Rollover provision to permit donors to make tax-free charitable gifts directly from their IRAs tocharities; and by amending the Qualified Performing Artist Deduction, IRC 62(a)(2)((B) and 62(b)(1) toallow performing artists to qualify for this benefit by raising the income cap to $30,000 from $16,000.
http://www.aahperd.org/ndahttp://www.aahperd.org/ndahttp://www.aahperd.org/nda


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April 17, 2012


The National Dance Education Organization is proud to be a National Co- Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. As the nationsadvocates for dance educators and dance education centered in the arts, we urge members of the House and Senate toconsider the benefits of high quality dance education in the United States. All of our children need access to the bestresources in order to reap the benefits of dance and to become active, engaged, creative contributors to the workforce.

The U.S faces numerous challenges including how to address the needs of multi-cultural populations, rises in poverty levels,homelessness, and the needs of differently-abled students in our schools. These challenges are compounded by a newly-recovering economy. Todays students face a global marketplace with a demand for creative thinkers who can thrive in aknowledge-based economy. To meet these challenges, we need:

Quality dance programs in all schools.Research shows that dance directly builds both creative skills (discipline, innovation, complex problem-solving) andhealth (addressing issues of obesity and supporting lifelong wellness). Dance also provides a modality for cross-cultural understanding and personal efficacy. We urge Congress to help us chart access to quality dance educationthrough improved and inclusive surveys and to include dance in the National Assessment of Educational Progress sowe can build on our understanding of how high quality dance programs impact our nations learners.

Standards-based dance education beginning in early childhood. Children are natural dancers, but educators do not always understand how critical movement is to learning. NDEOhas developed Standards for Learning and Teaching Dance in the Arts and Standards for Dance in Early Childhood .These standards need to be disseminated and evaluated in the field in order for children to have the opportunities todevelop their natural talents and achieve in-depth learning.

Highly qualified teachers and model programs.We recognize the importance of professional development and the role model programs play in education. NDEO hasdeveloped Professional Teaching Standards for Dance Art s to ensure that children have the best instruction possibleand that teachers have sufficient content and pedagogical knowledge to address the needs of all children. NDEO hasalso developed criteria for model dance education programs that are designed to be taught by qualified educators ina graduated curriculum for all populations.

Dance in community service.We fully support the proposed creation of an Artists Corps within the Corporation for National and Community Service(CNCS). The Artists Corps will work with nonprofit community organizations to place artists in communities to provideneeds-based education, participatory performances, and outreach. Many dance organizations have a proven recordof building community across boundaries and fostering empowered populations.

The Value of Dance EducationChildren with ADHD have said that the world comes into focus while dancing. Dance teaches social skills, tolerance, andcollaboration. Dance allows children the opportunity to explore physical and kinesthetic senses that promote self-esteem and ahealthy, active life.

Students who study dance test higher on the SATs (36 points higher on the verbal and 15 points higher on the math sections)and students of minority multicultural populations test as kinesthetic learners. Only 20% of U.S schools have dance programs,and only 7% of students are taught by a qualified dance educator. Every child deserves an opportunity to create, present, andlearn through dance.

Sincerely,

Jane Bonbright, Ed.D.Executive Director


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April 17, 2012


As a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012, and on behalf of our diverseconstituency of more than 450 member institutions serving more than 7 million students,the National Guild for Community Arts Education asks that you help us ensure all

Americans have access to lifelong learning opportunities in the arts.

As the sole national service organization for community arts education providers since1937, the National Guilds network of nonprofit arts education organizations includesneighborhood music schools, arts centers, and arts education divisions of universities,theater and dance companies, museums, parks and recreation departments and others.United by their common commitments to quality, accessibility and accountability in artseducation, these organizations foster lifelong participation in the performing, visual andliterary arts, and develop the artists (amateur and professional), educators, and audiencesof the future.

Research shows that high quality instruction in the arts has many benefits for individuals

and communities. When sustained and responsive to community needs, these programsfoster cognitive development, increase creativity and improve health. They also fosterdemocratic decision-making, advance economic growth and promote a sense of sharedculture and belonging. They can be a valuable addition to or enrichment of K-12education and a catalyst and conduit for innovative and collaborative community-wide andcross-sector alliances. When well-coordinated, these alliances can leverage vital resourcesfor arts education, create networks of support and ensure that the arts learning needs andinterests of all Americans (including young children, older adults, ESL students, learning disabled students, etc.) are adequately addressed.

The benefits of arts education accrue over time and demand long-term partnerships, professional development for staff and teaching artists, and financialresources . To ensure that the arts learning needs and interests of all Americans areadequately addressed, we ask you to support an increase in funding for the NationalEndowment for the Arts (NEA) to $155 million for FY13 and to support $30 million infunding for the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education.

Today, more than 7,500 nonprofit, arts organizations and government agencies areproviding open access to classes, lessons and workshops in dance, literary arts, media arts,music, theater, visual arts and other disciplines. Many also are providing learning/development through the arts with a focus on positive aging, youth development,community building and other areas. Through partnerships with public schools, seniorcenters, public agencies and other organizations, they ensure the broadest possible accessto arts education.

With your support, we can continue to strengthen arts education and increase lifelong learning opportunities in the arts for every American.

Sincerely,

Jonathan HermanExecutive Director


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3 Aztec Drive - Bay Shore, NY 11706 - www.nysdea.org

April 17, 2012


The New York Dance Education Association, NYSDEA, is very proud to be a National Co-Sponsor of ArtsAdvocacy Day 2012 in Washington D.C. In this capacity we represent thousands of your constituents whoteach dance, learn dance and perform dance in the state of New York.We would like to encourage you to continue to support dance as essential art form in the United States byvoting to continue arts funding at these levels:

NEA: $155 million

Arts in Education: $30 million

NYSDEA is a non-profit organization incorporated in New York State that has its roots in the New York State Dance Association, which was established over 30 years ago. An autonomous membership

organization, NYSDEA is the state affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and isrecognized by the New York State Department of Education. Its purpose is to bring together members fornetworking and the sharing of ideas related to the mission of the organization, which is to advance danceeducation centered in the arts, throughout the State of New York. NYSDEA works with national and stateorganizations in carrying out the national mission of promoting and strengthening dance as an art form andas an effective tool for education. Our goal is to advocate, promote, support, and strengthen danceeducation in all environments and institutions in New York State.

NYSDEA welcomes dance education professionals, students and institutions. We seek to serve a broadconstituency: private sector, K-12 public and private schools, higher education, professional companyeducation outreach, school and arts administrators, not-for-profit and for profit organizations, e.g.,corporations, business and foundations that support dance. NYSDEA strengthens the network of danceeducators, nationally, locally and throughout the state by providing quality professional development to

dance educators in the State of New York offering opportunities for individuals to create, perform, andobserve dance in the State of New York and by supporting the effort nationally. The many invaluablebenefits for this broad constituency include: networking with others across the state and nationally,membership in the NDEO, the Journal of Dance Education: a national peer review publication, AnnualNDEO conferences, New York State workshops, NYSDEA website for information sharing, NationalHonor Society for Dance Arts for students 11-18 years of age, and a voice in developing New York Statedance policy and curricular issues.

It is our hope that through Arts Advocacy Day, United States legislators will come to understand thepowerful need to maintain funding for Dance Education throughout the United States. We encouragelegislators to recognize the essential role dance as an art form should play in the education of students andcitizens across all areas of the education spectrum.

With sincere best wishes,

Abigail Agresta-Stratton, MA, RDEPresident, NYSDEANew York State Dance Education Association


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April 17, 2012


As the national service organization for the entire opera community and a National Co-Sponsor of ArtsAdvocacy Day 2012, OPERA America encourages you to support federal policy that will strengthen thearts in America.

Founded in 1970, OPERA America has an international membership that includes nearly 150 ProfessionalCompany Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and over 16,000subscribers to its electronic news service. OPERA America offers its members artistic services that helpartists and companies increase the creativity and excellence of opera productions, especially NorthAmerican works; opera company services that address the needs of staff, trustees, and volunteers; andeducation, audience development, and community services that increase all forms of opera appreciation.

On behalf of OPERA Americas membership and those that it serves, we urge you to strengthen federalsupport for the arts in the following ways:

Support artistic excellence and access to the arts by supporting a budget of $155 million for theNational Endowment for the Arts;

Preserve charitable giving incentives, such as the charitable deduction and the IRA CharitableRollover, without which public access to the arts would be severely diminished; and reject attemptsto create a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits that discriminates against arts and culture byreducing tax deductibility of charitable gifts;

Improve student achievement by allocating $30 million for the Arts in Education programs at theU.S. Department of Education;

When reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), include the followingprovisions: retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning, reauthorize theArts in Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education, and conduct dedicated hearingson how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation.

Encourage international cultural exchange by directing a minimum of $15 million for the CulturalPrograms Division of the State Departments Office of Citizen Exchanges;

Enact legislation that will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reduce thetotal processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-relatedorganizations to a maximum of 45 days.

We encourage you to support funding and policies that continue to strengthen opera and the performingarts in communities across the nation.

Sincerely,

Marc Scorca Brandon GrydePresident and CEO Director of Government Affairs


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Performing Arts Alliance1211 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200 | Washington, DC 20036

Tel. 202.207.3850 | Fax 202.833.1543www.theperformingartsalliance.org

April 17, 2012


The Performing Arts Alliance is pleased to once again be a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Each yearwe gather together as arts advocates to ask for your support on policies that recognize the importance of creativity inAmerica.

The Performing Arts Alliance is a national network of more than 27,000 organizational and individual memberscomprising the professional, nonprofit performing arts and presenting fields. Our member organizations include:American Composers Forum, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Chorus America, Dance/USA, Fractured Atlas,League of American Orchestras, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture,National Performance Network, New Music USA, OPERA America, and Theatre Communications Group. For more than30 years, the Performing Arts Alliance has been the premiere advocate for Americas professional nonprofit performingarts organizations, artists, and their publics before the U.S. Congress and key policy makers. Through legislative andgrassroots action, the Performing Arts Alliance advocates for national policies that recognize, enhance, and foster thecontributions the performing arts make to America.

On behalf of our members and the audiences they serve, we encourage you to enhance and strengthen the performingarts by supporting the following actions:

Increase Funding for the NEA We urge Congress to support a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for theArts (NEA) in FY13. The NEA contributes to the economic growth and development of communities nationwide andnurtures the growth and artistic excellence of thousands of arts organizations and artists in every corner of the country.

Encourage Gifts to Support the Arts in our Communities We urge Congress to preserve incentives for charitable giving,including tax deductibility and the IRA Charitable Rollover, and reject attempts to create a hierarchy of deductions tononprofits that discriminates against arts and culture by reducing tax deductibility of charitable gifts.

Increase Funding for Arts Education We urge Congress to support a budget of $30 million for the Arts in Education

programs at the U.S. Department of Education in FY13. Strengthen Arts Education in ESEA We urge Congress, in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary

Education Act (ESEA), to retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects and strengthen equitable access to thearts in the legislation.

Improve Visa Processing for Foreign Guest Artists We urge Congress to enact legislation that will require U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reduce the total processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations to a maximum of 45 days.

Increase Funding for Cultural Exchange We urge Congress to appropriate $15 million for the Cultural ProgramsDivision of the State Departments Office of Citizen Exchanges in FY13.

Protect Performing Arts Technology We urge Congress to set aside $17.5 million in any spectrum auction legislation todefray the costs to performing arts organizations of moving wireless microphone operations in the broadcast spectrum.

We encourage you to support policies that support the performing arts in communities across the nation.

Sincerely,

Roche SchulferChair, Performing Arts Alliance


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2647 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20008 TEL 202/299-9770 FAX 202/299-9887 www.thesah.org

April 17, 2012


I write on behalf of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, a proud National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Recognizing the economic pressures on our country, one point is clear: it is imperative to explorecost-effective options for delivery of quality healthcare services. Integrating the arts into healthcare settingshas a profound effect improving patient care, saving costs, and creating safer and healthier environments.

In our landmark study of over 2,000 hospitals, Cultures of Care: A Study of Arts Programs in U.S. Hospitals , half reported using arts programming to create healing environments, support patient mental and emotionalrecovery, communicate health information, and foster positive working conditions. Other studies have shownthat creative arts interventions with patients have resulted in shorter hospital stays, fewer medical visits,decreased use of medical interventions covered by Medicare among the aging, and reduced use of sedativesduring medical procedures, among other cost-saving benefits.

To strengthen the arts in health, we urge you to support arts and health by: Directing federal agencies involved in the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force to

support research focused on how the arts affect the health and well-being of individuals across thelifespan

Designating funding through Department of Defense, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs forDemonstration Projects for veterans and active military to access cost-effective creative arts inhealthcare treatment and programming

Supporting a Dear Colleague Letter seeking clarification from the Centers for Medicare and

Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapies interventions withinexisting Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) Supporting a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts in the FY 2013

Interior Appropriations bill to preserve citizen access to the cultural, educational, and economicbenefits of the arts, and to advance creativity and innovation in communities across the United States

Founded in 1991, the Society for the Arts in Healthcare is a Washington, DC-based non-profitmembership organization dedicated to advancing the arts as integral to healthcare. Funded in part by theNational Endowment of the Arts and Johnson & Johnson, the Society provides program and professionaldevelopment support through resources and information, consulting services, and the convening of conferences and symposia to a wide range of arts and healthcare institutions. With over 1,700 members in 49states, our membership represents diverse fields: healthcare decision makers, doctors, nurses, architects,

interior designers, researchers, and the artistic community. Thank you for your leadership and support of the growth of arts in healthcare in our country.

Sincerely,

Anita B. BolesExecutive Director

Approaching Health Creatively


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1 8 0 0 P E A C H T R E E S T R E E T N W . S U I T E 8 0 8 | AT L A N TA . G E O R G I A 3 0 3 0 9

P H O N E 4 0 4 . 8 7 4 . 7 2 4 4 | FA X 4 0 4 . 8 7 3 . 2 1 4 8 | E M A I L S O U T H A RT S @ S O U T H A RT S . O R G

April 17, 2012


South Arts is a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. We are a nonprofit regional arts organizationwith the mission of strengthening the South through advancing excellence in the arts, connecting the arts to keystate and national policies and nurturing a vibrant quality of life. We work in partnership with the nine state artsagencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina andTennessee. Together, we serve a very large and diverse population. South Arts carries out its work with thesupport of the National Endowment for the Arts.

We feel strongly about the importance of the issues coming before this Congress. Specifically, we urge you tosupport the following:

National Endowment for the Arts

We urge Congress: To support a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in the FY 2013

Interior Appropriations bill to preserve citizen access to the cultural, educational, and economic benefitsof the arts and to advance creativity and innovation in communities across the United States.

Arts in Education

We urge Congress to: Appropriate $30 million for the Arts in Education (AIE) programs in the FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education

appropriations bill. The Arts in Education program is authorized under the Elementary and SecondaryEducation Act.

Retain the Arts in Education program as a distinct grant competition in FY 2013 appropriations.

We believe favorable consideration of these issues is vital to the future of our nation and our people.

Respectfully yours,

Gerri CombsExecutive Director


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April 17, 2012


On behalf of Theatre Communications Group the national service organization for the Americantheatre and the nearly 500 not-for-profit theatres across the country that comprise ourmembership, we urge you to support funding for the National Endowment for the Arts at$155 million , for arts education programs at the U.S. Department of Education at $30million , for enlightened tax policies benefiting the arts and to set aside $17.5 million in anyspectrum auction legislation to defray the costs to performing arts organizations of movingwireless microphone operations in the broadcast spectrum. More than 1,800 theatres not-for-profit

professional theatres in the U.S., those that filed IRS Form 990, present performances to acombined annual attendance of more than 31 million people.

Our countrys not -for-profit theatres develop innovative educational activities and outreach programs, providing millions of young people, including at -risk youth, with import ant skills forthe future by expanding their creativity and developing problem-solving, reasoning andcommunication abilities preparing todays students to become tomorrows citizens. Our theatrespresent new works and serve as catalysts for economic growth in their local communities. NEA-funded theatres have become increasingly responsive to their communities, producing work thatreflects and celebrates the strength of our nations diversity . At the same time, these theatresprovide artistic homes to nurture and develop the current generation of acclaimed writers, actors,directors and designers who also work on Broadway and in film and television industries.

Indeed, the entire not-for-profit arts industry stimulates the economy, creates jobs and attractstourism dollars. The not-for-profit arts generate $166.2 billion annually in economic activity,support 5.7 million jobs and return $12.6 billion in federal income taxes. Art museums, exhibitsand festivals combine with performances of theatre, dance, opera and music to draw tourists andtheir consumer dollars to communities nationwide. Federal funding of the arts creates asignificant return, generating many more dollars in matching funds for each federal dollarawarded, and is clearly an investment in the economic health of America. In a difficult economywhere corporate donations and foundation grants are diminished, and increased ticket prices wouldundermine efforts to broaden and diversify audiences, these federal funds simply cannot bereplaced. Maintaining the strength of the not-for-profit sector, along with the commercial sector, isvital to the economic health of our nation.

Theatre Communications Group, as a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012, urgesyou to support funding for FY13 for the NEA, so that not-for-profit professional arts organizationscan continue to educate and entertain audiences, train the next generation of artists, better equiptomorrows citizens, and generate local revenue nationwide.

Sincerely,

Teresa Eyring Laurie BaskinExecutive Director Director of Government & Education

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