Dear Local Arts Leaders,

I was very happy to see the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies' (NASAA) FY2020 State Arts Agency Revenues Report<https://nasaa-arts.org/research/funding/#nasaa_field_5> on the status of state support for the arts and culture, specifically the amount of funds each state's governor and legislature is providing to their state arts agency (SAA). According to the report, the 50 states and 6 territories appropriated almost $495 million for SAAs in FY2020. Total state appropriations increased by $134 million from FY 2019 to FY2020, a 37 percent year to year increase.

This achievement was not realized in a vacuum, but because of the tireless work from people like you-arts advocates who have reached out to your state elected officials to let them know the importance of the arts and culture to your state. You have taken the great research provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, and other organizations to make your case that the arts are good for business, employ millions of people, help our veterans, and give students a well-rounded education. For this, I say thank you! This accomplishment couldn't have been done without you.
[A group of people standing next to a person in a suit and tie  Description automatically generated]

Pictured L-R Zions Bank President Scott Anderson, a member of the Americans for the Arts' Business Committee for the Arts<https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/private-sector-network/people-projects>, Utah Governor Gary Herbert and myself presenting the governor with the Public Leadership in the Arts Award at a ceremony in Salt Lake City.   Business support is essential to the growth of the arts and culture industry and we thank Scott for his support.

A special thank you to the various state arts advocacy organizations<https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/state-arts-action-network> who take the lead in each state to educate and inform your state leaders. Each year, these organizations get stronger and achieve more and more success. Here are two examples:

  *   ARTPRIDE New Jersey, "through aggressive and strategic advocacy" (in their words), worked to pass and get signed into law a measure that specifies a new minimum appropriation for arts, history, and tourism starting in 2021. This will result in millions of additional dollars for the SAA each year.
  *   Texans for the Arts worked over the last several years to realize a $10 million increase this year in funding for the Texas Commission on the Arts' Cultural District Grant Program. This is in addition to a new $250,000 appropriation for a grant program to support Arts in Healing initiatives for veterans and active duty military.
I also want to congratulate the SAAs for their work in expanding programming not only to provide grants, but to implement transformative projects, like the one just mentioned with the Texas Commission on the Arts that focuses on arts in healthcare for our military. It is this type of thoughtful, "outside the box" programming that demonstrates the overall value of the arts and culture and, thus, how the state arts agency is a valued tool in state government to enhance the quality of life for residents of that state.
[A person standing posing for the camera  Description automatically generated]

Jay Dick with Oklahoma State Senator Julia Kirk at the National Conference of State Legislator's Annual Meeting in Nashville this past Summer.   Senator Kirk is the former Executive Director of Oklahomans for the Arts.

Supporting the efforts of state (and local) advocates is Americans for the Arts' Public Partnership Program<https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/promotion-and-recognition/strategic-partners/governmental-partners-public-sector> where we work with the various associations of elected officials to make sure that the arts and culture is always on their national meeting agendas, in their publications, and on their minds. Through our work, we educate state and local elected officials, their staff, and the staff of the national organizations about the importance of the arts to their city, county, or state. We do this through providing research, speaking at these meetings, presenting awards, writing articles for their blogs and magazines, and then connecting them back to you, their local/state constituent.
This concept of national engagement of state and local officials has proven very successful-not only in increased appropriations and general support for the arts and culture, but also in engaging these elected officials in ways that encourage adoption of pro-arts positions and collaboration with their state's arts leaders. Currently, Americans for the Arts partners with the Western Governors Association, the National Lt. Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Association of Counties, The United States Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and ICMA, the city/county managers association. We are the only arts group, and one of a select few non-profit organizations in general, to work with all these organizations. For comparison, when I am at these meetings, my colleagues are people from corporations such as Apple, AT&T, Starbucks, and Walmart. In other words, we are operating at a level much higher than a nonprofit of our size and budget.
Successful advocacy is a team sport. Through Americans for the Arts' expansive network of direct advocacy-including our members such as the state arts advocacy organizations, state arts agencies, county and local arts agencies, and our collective supporters-we are an exceptionally strong policy and political force. So, as we celebrate this achievement of $495 million in state appropriations, let's take a moment to congratulate each other on a job well done.
To see (or share) this information, please go to Americans for the Arts' Blog<https://blog.americansforthearts.org/2020/02/12/record-state-investment-in-the-arts>.

Jay

Jay H. Dick
Senior Director of State and Local Government Affairs
Americans for the Arts
1000 Vermont Ave., NW  6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202-371-2830 x2076
jay@artsusa.org<mailto:jay@artsusa.org>
@JayAFTA