ARTS ADVOCACY DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE

Once again a huge success! On Tuesday, April 21, we Celebrated the Creative Sector at the State House with arts advocates and legislators. Thank you all who made it out to the event and helped make it a great success!

At AAD this year, we launched this button design - talking to our core message that the arts feed the creative and innovative thinking for today's knowledge-based, business economy.

Here are the highlights: Despite the rain, the State Ballet performed outside, filling the white marble courtyard in front of the State House with color and movement. We shared stories about the arts impact in Rhode Island - see below for transcripts. And then filled the halls of the State House with music while mingling with legislators, featuring the 'Mericans and The Salt Wives. A number of our state leaders joined us for the speaking portion and reception. Senators Maryellen Goodwin (D-Providence) and Edward J. O'Neill (I-Lincoln, N. Providence, Pawtucket) recognized their constituents on the Senate floor as guests taking part in Arts Advocacy Day.

Special thanks to our speakers: Representative Peter Kilmartin (D-Pawtucket), Photographer and Founder of AS220's Photo Lab Scott Lapham, WRNI General Manager Joe O'Connor, and a featured keynote by Curt Columbus, Artistic Director at Trinity Repertory Theatre. Their stories and words were inspiring and spoke to the strength of the arts to our State, our children and our souls.

For those of you who missed it, check out Scott Lapham's speech and Curt Columbus' speech.

Advocacy update

LOCAL

Public Art Program - Senate Commission

In the 2008 legislative session, the 1% for the Arts Public Art program was challenged on a number of occasions. Each time, RI Citizens for the Arts worked with legislators to save the program from drastic measures that would have had significant negative affects to the program itself and RI artists who work in the Public Art realm. The result of these efforts culminated into the establishment of a Senate Study Commission on the Public Art program. The Commission held its first meeting on April 21, 2009 and has been meeting weekly ever since. Chaired and established by Senator Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry), the Commission includes Senator Leo Blais (R-Coventry, Foster, Scituate), Senator Frank Ciccone (D-Prov, N. Prov), RI Citizens for the Arts' Executive Director Lisa Carnevale and RI State Council for the Arts' Executive Director Randy Rosenbaum.

peter diepenbrock

The areas in which the program is being studied include: 1. Cost, 2. Preference to RI-only artists, and 3. the Selection process. Testimony was heard on at two of the meetings, with a number of public artists and supporters of the program delivering strong statements on each of these areas. We thank all for taking the time to participate in the discussion.

At the last meeting of the Commission on May 20th, members agreed on provisions that would - in our opinion - better the program and address citizen concerns. Stay tuned for more updates. (And read below for the number of recent articles and editorials on this topic.)

RISCA FY10 Proposed Budget - Includes Cuts

The House Finance Committee Hearing for the RI State Council on the Arts (RISCA) FY10 Budget was held on April 29, 2009. After a long wait, RISCA was heard last on the agenda at 7:30 pm. RISCA faces cuts originally proposed in Governor Carcieri's FY10 budget. In total, the proposed cuts are approximately $110,000, reflecting a 26% cut in personnel and 3% cut to discretionary grants. Much of these cuts are being adjusted with federal funds, making this year tolerable. The personnel cut results in the loss of staff funding for the Folk Art program coordinator. We are currently working to restore this position, again using federal funds that are available. This position is incredibly valuable, especially in our State, as it reaches out and supports the cultural diversity of the various ethnic communities.

RISCA faces these cuts like other state agencies across the board. For this, our position is to recognize the economic hardship the State is facing and accept our share of the brunt, but also make sure the arts are not singled out with disproportionate cuts.

As we are in the last weeks of the session, this remains the most crucial time to watch how the budget gets shaped and if things change further for the worse. RI Citizens for the Arts is keeping an eye on this progress at the State House and working with legislators. We'll keep you posted as things progress.

The Hearing: Unfortunately, by the time RISCA was called to be heard by the Finance Hearing, those who took the time to pack the room and testify were unavailable. While these folks were not able to share their thoughts to the Committee, we want to share with you how powerful it *would* have been! Testimony was coordinated by RI Citizens for the Arts, in conjunction with RISCA, with an effort to highlight our key message this year: Arts + Education = Jobs (Button Image to the left). Simon Khiev, Former Student at New Urban Arts, and Co-Owner of the Bubble Tea House on Westminster Street in Providence was to join Wesley Cruise, former student at Riverzedge in Woonsocket and t-shirt screenprinter, to talk about the influence these arts programs had on their pursuits in business. Michael Gennaro, Executive Director at Trinity Rep, was to join Ellen Gracyalyn, Owner of Gracie's Restaurant on Washington Street in Downtown Providence, to talk about the impact of the arts on the local economy. We were also joined by a number of artists, arts organizations and supporters. Thank you all for coming out to support the arts in Rhode Island!

NATIONAL

President Obama Proposes Increase to NEA in FY10 Budget

On May 7, 2009, The White House released the Obama Administration's budget for FY10. Included in the budget is $161 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and $38.16 million for Arts in Education program at the Department of Education. This reflects an increase by $6 million to the NEA and the first time in 8 years that Arts in Education funds were included in the presidential budget! The President's budget is the starting point to shaping the budget, which is then enacted and empowered by Congress. Ultimately, Congress has the power to change these proposed amounts. Visit the Americans for the Arts Action Center to write to your Congressmen and express support above and beyond the President's appropriations.

Broadway Producer Rocco Landesman is Nominated as next Chairman to NEA

On May 13, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Rocco Landesman as the next Chairman to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Mr. Landesman is the president of the Jujamycn Theatres, and said to be a maverick Broadway producer with "energy, intellect, and irreverent - and occasionally sharp-elbowed - candor" by the New York Times. It's expected things will be quite different under Mr. Landesman's leadership. Read a selection of articles covering this announcement below - with Rhode Island's very own Oskar Eustis quoted in the Washington Post.

Read coverage:
The Washington Post | The New York Times | LA Times

RI4ARTS UPDATE

Sustaining the Arts in RI: A 5-Year Strategy Unveiled

In March 2009, RI Citizens for the Arts released the first ever multi-year policy and visionary strategy towards sustaining the arts in Rhode Island. Over the course of 15 months, RI Citizens for the Arts analyzed the sector and gathered the collective thoughts from a broad range of artists, business and civic leaders, education officials and legislators. This plan is the guiding document for the work of RI Citizens for the Arts in the coming years, helping us stay the course no matter the political environment. The strategy seeks to reintegrate the arts into the conversations of our decision-makers through highlighting the importance of the creative community to our State economically, culturally and civically. Through this, the arts become a recognized resource that not only strengthens the economy, but also positions Rhode Island for future opportunities for positive growth.

 

A Conversation with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

March 20: U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Providence Mayor David Cicilline, House Finance Chairman Steven Costantino, and over 100 artists and creative business professionals at an event organized by RI Citizens for the Arts to discuss new federal arts stimulus funds and the organization’s Sustaining the Arts in RI: A 5-Year Strategy, a visionary plan to boost the arts in RI. In a moderated discussion, Whitehouse, Cicilline, and Costantino answered questions and listened to concerns of the creative community in a partially renovated industrial space at the Steel Yard, a three-acre non-profit industrial arts learning facility and business incubator in Providence.

At the event, RI Citizens for the Arts released its plan to boost the artistic and creative sectors of Rhode Island’s economy. Titled Sustaining the Arts in Rhode Island: A 5-Year Strategy, the visionary plan was developed over the course of 15 months and represents the views of many of the artists present at the event. "Like our coast line, the arts and creative community is one of Rhode Island’s most appealing resources. This plan explains how we can use that community to strengthen our economy in the short term and position Rhode Island for future growth," said Lisa Carnevale, Executive Director of RI Citizens for the Arts.

L-R: House Finance Chairman Steven Costantino, Mayor David Cicilline and
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Read the full report Sustaining the Arts in RI: A 5-Year Strategy (pdf)
Read more coverage
Providence Business News | Providence Journal | Providence Phoenix

ISSUES IN THE ARTS: EDUCATION

RI Arts Learning Network - Update

More Articles and Efforts of Interest

From our friends at RISCA and the Arts Learning Network: Exciting policy news from the arts education arena. Two documents are now out for public review that include the arts as a core subject area. When both are approved by the Board of Regents, they will become regulation with the force of law.

1) BEP--Basic Education Program which sets out minimum standards for a quality education, in everything from curriculum content to family engagement and student support. For the arts, each school district shall ensure a coherent Pk-12 curricula for visual arts & design and at least one of the performing arts. Additionally, "classes in at least two art forms shall be available for each student in each grade through the middle level. A program of study shall exist for all secondary students to enable them to demonstrate proficiency in at least one art form. Additionally, secondary school students shall be provided with the opportunity to do multiple levels of coursework in visual arts and design in both two and three dimensions and in at least one performing arts discipline."

On Tuesday, May 19, RI Citizens for the Arts' Lisa Carnevale testified in front of the Board of Regents at the last of four hearings on the BEP. Also speaking on behalf of the arts was Sherry Brown, RISCA's Education Coordinator and Jeannine Chartier of VSA Arts/RI.

2) Arts GSE's--grade span expectations. This document outlines what students are expected to know and be able to do in the arts (visual arts & design, music, theatre, dance) at grades 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. This document will ultimately be up for approval by the Board of Regents, either in June or this Fall.

While policy does not guarantee practice, it is the legal foundation of our work going forward.

For more information, contact Arts Liaison, Rosemary Burns at the RI Department of Education Rosemary.Burns@ride.ri.gov.

ARTS & ECONOMICS

SOS: Arts Jobs RI - Spending the Arts Stimulus Funds

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Rhode Island received $291,500 through the alloted $50 million to the NEA. These funds are to be awarded to RI arts organizations to preserve jobs. As of May 1, 2009, the local application deadline, RISCA has received 52 applications totaling $1,137,500, that would save approximately 147 jobs. Recipients will be notified after the NEA makes their direct grant decisions, which is set to happen in early July. For more information and to track progress, see RISCA's Recovery page.

ARTS in the NEWS

Public Art - Local

Can RI still afford to pay for public art?, Providence Journal, 4/23/09

John Maeda: Keep 1-percent-for-art program, Providence Journal Letter to the Editor, 5/9/09

C.W. Roelle: R.I. can't afford not to pay for public art, Providence Journal Letter to the Editor, 5/13/09

One percent for Beauty?, Providence Journal Editorials, 5/13/09

Christopher McMahan: Public Art and the State of Rhode Island, ProJo Contributors, 5/22/09

Other News - Local

Some prisoners are confined to art, Providence Journal, 5/15/09

New Education Commissioner Deborah Gist signs 3-year Contract, Providence Journal, 5/12/09

National

Activists ask Whitehouse for role in recovery, The Washington Post, 5/13/2009

Michelle Obama stresses arts during NYC visit, Associated Press, 5/18/09