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Press Release: ArtServe

Gov. Snyder Releases FY14 Executive Budget Recommendations,
CDP Training Sessions and Arts Education Update

Gov. Snyder Recommends $6.65 Million for MCACA

Moments ago, Governor Snyder released his Fiscal Year 2014 Executive Budget Recommendations calling for an increase of $1 million instate investment for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) - recommending a total budget of $6,650,000.

The recommendation represents an investment of $6 million in state General Fund / General Purpose dollars and $650,000 in federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts. It is important to recognize that, while on paper this is a $1 million increase, we do see a correctly anticipated decrease in federal funds represented in the overall budget. In the end, the budget will be increased by $500,000 from FY13 to FY14 for the MCACA.

Breakdown by Fiscal Year:
FY 2013:
Total Budget - $6.15 million
State Investment - $5 million
Federal Investment - $1.15 million
FY 2014:
Total Budget - $6.65 million
State Investment - $6 million
Federal Investment - $650,000

This is the first time in over a decade that Michigan’s Governor has called for an increase in state arts funding in back-to-back years. We thank Governor Snyder for his leadership and recognition of the importance of the arts to Michigan’s economy and its citizens. Today’s increase continues to validate the work ArtServe has been doing behind the scenes with legislators and administration officials, while conducting the research needed to help make the case for the impact of arts and culture.

While this is an great step forward, we know that the state can and should contribute more to support its arts and cultural organizations and artists. Moving forward, we plan to seek continued support for an appropriation of at least $10 million for FY 2014 in recognition of the powerful role that Michigan’s creative economy contributes to the state’s reinvention – and a significant step forward to returning the state’s investment in creativity to at least $25 million for the future – a level appropriate to the sector’s strategic growth potential.
As you know, this is just the first step in the budget process as each house will now review the Governor’s budget and provide their respective recommendations. Know that ArtServe will keep you up to speed as things progress.

Michigan Cultural Data Project Orientations

The Cultural Data Project will be in Michigan at the end of February to conduct in-person training sessions to assist new and current users of the Michigan Cultural Data Project. The four sessions will take place in Kalamazoo, Lansing and Dearborn and will cover CDP Reports Orientation as well as a New User Orientation.

Please click the links below to register for one of these free sessions.

Kalamazoo (February 26th):
February 26, 2013 from 10am to 11:30am – CDP Reports Orientation – Kalamazoo Public Library (315 S Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI): the CDP Reports Orientation will give an overview of the CDP’s powerful reporting tools and is most useful for organizations that have already completed a Data Profile.

Lansing (February 28th – 2 sessions):
February 28, 2013 from 10am to 11:30am – New User Orientation – Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (1210 Turner St., Lansing, MI): The CDP New User orientation will walk you through the process of completing your Data Profile, applying to participating grantmakers, and generating reports.

February 28, 2013 from 1pm to 2:30pm – CDP Reports Orientation – Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (1210 Turner St., Lansing, MI): the CDP Reports Orientation will give an overview of the CDP’s powerful reporting tools and is most useful for organizations that have already completed a Data Profile.

Dearborn (March 1st):
February 28, 2013 from 10am to 11:30am – CDP Reports Orientation – Ford Community and Performing Arts Center (15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI): the CDP Reports Orientation will give an overview of the CDP’s powerful reporting tools and is most useful for organizations that have already completed a Data Profile.

If you are interested in either session but are not within driving distance, know that you can always take advantage of the free monthly webinars provided by the CDP. Please click here to view a schedule or sign up for one for the webinars.

Update: Senate Bill 133 and House Bill 4072

I wanted to send a quick update on Monday’s message regarding the impact that Senate Bill 133 and House Bill 4072 will have on arts education in Michigan. Considering the response to our message, I wanted to be clear in pointing out that ArtServe is doing more than just monitoring these bills and keeping you updated.

While a majority of you received a general email notifying you of the legislation, those who reside in a district whose elected official sponsored or cosponsored the legislation were sent an alert asking them to contact their member. Thus far, our advocates have sent nearly 200 emails to the elected officials supporting these bills!

Many of you replied asking what our plans were to fight this or if we would start a petition/email alert. As of now, there is no guarantee that either of these bills will go before committee. Every bill that is introduced is sent to its respective committee and it is up to chamber leadership and the Chair to decide whether or not to bring this before the committee. If either moves forward, we will certainly expand our email alert to a broader group.

Know that ArtServe will continue to monitor this legislation and work behind the scenes to keep this from moving forward.

As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to reply to this email or call Mike Latvis directly at 248-379-5897.

 

 

MLive

Art Hop celebrates art's role as a community builder in Kalamazoo (Editorial)

Art Hop, the first Friday of each month, is a celebration for downtown Kalamazoo, a party that allows us to kick up our heels, enjoy art exhibitions by local artists and mingle with friends and neighbors over food, drink and music at area businesses. (more...)

by Linda S. Mah
Kalamazoo Gazette
September 30, 2012

 

MLive

Community Arts Awards winners contribute to a creative landscape for all of us (Editorial)

The great classical works performed by a symphony orchestra, the musical comedy that makes us laugh with our neighbor, the physically improbably skills of a dancer, the visually stunning lines of a painting -- the medium does not matter so much as the fact that the arts exist in our world, to make it more beautiful, more thrilling, more meaningful. (...more)

by Linda S. Mah
Kalamazoo Gazette
September 13, 2012

 

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

Legislative Alert
May 9, 2012
From: Thomas L. Birch, Legislative Counsel
Vol. 10:12

Take Action: Contact Your Representatives and Senators, Urge NEA Funding at $155 Million for FY2013

2013 Appropriations Update: The House and Senate appropriations committees are beginning to draft legislation for funding across all agencies in the upcoming 2013 fiscal year. The budget allocations have been made to each of the appropriations subcommittees in both chambers. In the Senate, appropriators on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee—with jurisdiction over funds for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)—are working with the same total spending allocation as for FY2012. In the House it's a different story, with a budget resolution that hands $1 billion less to the Interior appropriators. (...more)

 

Kiplinger

Kalamazoo named one of the 10 most affordable cities.

Kalamazoo's living costs are the lowest on our list: 13% below the national average and 21% below nearby Chicago. Housing is perhaps the city's most notably cheap amenity, with costs one-third below the national average. But Kalamazoo also offers a range of budget-friendly activities (...more)
 

Americans for the Arts

Arts Industry Turns Corner After Great Recession According To Americans for the Arts' National Arts Index

Advances in Technology Impacting How Arts Organizations Engage Audiences
Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, today announced the results of the National Arts Index, the annual measure of the health and vitality of the arts industries in the United States. The 2012 Index reveals that the arts industry began to recover from the effects of the Great Recession in 2010. (...more)
 

Press Release: ArtServe

ArtServe Michigan
Breaking News: Senate & House Subcommittees Adopt Gov. Snyder Recommendation of $6.15M for MCACA

Over the past two days the Senate and House General Government Appropriations Subcommittees have met to report out on their recommendations (Senate – SB 954 S1 and House – HB 5382 S1) for Fiscal Year 2013 funding. Included in each subcommittee’s recommendation was $6,150,000 in funding for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) – representing an increase of $3,582,600 from FY12 to FY13.

If you recall, on February 9th, Governor Rick Snyder released his Executive Budget Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2013 – proposing an increase to $6,150,000 for the MCACA. Since then, the subcommittees in each house have met to review and take testimony on each department’s budget within the Governor’s proposal. Earlier this month, ArtServe testified before each committee urging support of the Governor’s recommendation while providing data from Creative State Michigan and discussing the importance of arts, culture and arts education in Michigan.

The support of the two subcommittees is an important step as it represents one of the final hurdles for the MCACA’s FY13 budget. The two bills will now go before the full Appropriations Committees before heading to the floor for a vote in their respective houses. Following that, the bills will be sent to Conference Committee to allow for negotiation on final funding levels. Know that we will keep you informed as we continue to work behind the scenes to ensure passage of the increased budget for the MCACA.

Consider supporting our efforts as we continue to fight for the arts, culture and arts education in Michigan!
• Make a contribution ($10, $25, or whatever you can afford)
• Become an organizational member of ArtServe

As always, if you have any questions or comments call Mike Latvis directly at 248-379-5897.

 

MLive

Kalamazoo Arts Council looking for new ways to serve, stay strong

When the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids announced in October it was closing its doors after more than 40 years of raising funds and advocating for the arts, it painted a dire picture for arts councils. However, the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo says it has no intention of folding anytime soon. (... more)

by Linda S. Mah
Kalamazoo Gazette
December 05, 2011