This “open” letter will be published in The Star-Ledger and broadly distributed to other press. We would like you to sign on! Your organization’s participation in this effort will signal the importance of state leadership and support for the arts and history in New Jersey. It will help demonstrate the variety of constituencies that will be negatively affected by Governor McGreevey’s proposed budget which eliminates all funding for our state’s cultural agencies.

If your organization wishes to add its name to this letter, please verify your participation by emailing ArtPRIDE (artpride@artpridenj.com) with the following typed as the subject of your email—Open letter signature verification. Please list the name and organizational affiliation you wish to appear in print and contact us by March 19 if you wish to be included. This letter will also be posted in ArtPRIDE’s online Arts Crisis Resource Room. Thank you in advance for your support!

The Governor’s proposed budget eliminates all funding, $33.2 million, for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Historical Commission, and the New Jersey Cultural Trust. It puts these agencies out of business, turns away vital federal and private funding, and breaks the State’s commitment to the private sector to match its efforts to build a secure future for New Jersey’s cultural industry.

The non-profit arts and history are vital to our lives and our communities because they:

The arts and history also help to improve schools and education, strengthen tourism, and celebrate diversity, teach tolerance, and instill patriotism. They help to revitalize our cities and towns and fuel the economy – attracting large corporations to New Jersey and bolstering local businesses, restaurants, food services, transportation, hotels, shops, printers, designers, advertising, lumber, lighting, and furnishings.

The arts and history give back far more than they receive. In tough economic times, they are part of the solution, not the problem. Eliminating state support is foolish and will cost more than is saved.

The State agencies administering state, federal, and private dollars for 800 non-profit programs are nationally acclaimed. These agencies are leaders that provide our citizens full accountability for their tax dollars. They award funds in every county of the state through an open process of competitive applications, based on merit.

We call upon the Legislature for Full Funding and staffing for these three agencies and absolute preservation of the $20 million Cultural Trust Fund created by the good-faith efforts of the private sector.

We urge people everywhere to contact their State Legislators. Logon to www.ArtPrideNJ.com, where a legislative directory and sample letters may be found.

Save NJ Arts & History postcards are available at several locations throughout the state. They are designed so that patrons, visitors and audience members may retain information at the top and sign a statement that supports restoration of funding and staffing for the NJ State Council on the Arts, NJ Cultural Trust and NJ Historical Commission. Help us get the word out, get them signed by people who care and COLLECT them so we can deliver them to our elected officials in Trenton.

If you would like a quantity of postcards, please contact ArtPRIDE. Postcards are available at the following locations: Appel Farm Arts & Music Center (856-358-2472), American Repertory Ballet (732-249-1254), Arts Council of the Morris Area (973-377-6622), Hunterdon Museum of Art (908-735-8415), Jersey City Museum (201-413-0303), McCarter Theatre (609-258-6500), Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (609-884-5404), Monmouth County Arts Council (732-212-1890), Montclair Art Museum (973-746-5555), Newark Museum (973-596-6650), NJ Performing Arts Center (973-642-8989), NJ Symphony Orchestra (973-624-3713), NJ Theatre Alliance(973-593-0189), Paper Mill Playhouse (973-379-3636), Perkins Center for the Arts (856-235-6488), South Jersey Cultural Alliance (609-441-1700), South Jersey Performing Arts Center (856-342-6633), State Theatre (732-247-7200), Union County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs (908-558-2550). Please call in advance to arrange pickup at any of these institutions.

A special thank you goes to John McEwen, John Gallagher of Hanover Printing, Central Lewmar Paper, and Bob Gould for helping with printing, paper, and postcard distribution.

Other ways to advocate:

•Form an advocacy committee of your board of trustees. If you need help on how to get started and develop an advocacy plan, contact Berda Rittenhouse (berdar@ptd.net or 908-995-4279).

•Schedule a face-to-face visit with your local state legislators. Call or email Barry Taylor (barrytaylor123@aol.com or 609-628-2761) if you have a meeting scheduled, wish to schedule one, and for an advocacy packet containing strategies and talking points.It is critical to have information from your legislative visits to inform others that follow. We can also help by providing key arts and history community leaders to accompany you on your visit.

•Register your opinion with local press. If you are interested in writing an opinion editorial, please let us know if you need help with data, talking points or press contacts.

•Get a resolution or proclamation from your municipality or county. Sample resolutions are located in ArtPRIDE’s online Arts Crisis Resource Room.

•Testify at an open public budget hearing. We have breaking news that the dates for SENATE (only)public hearings are March 18 at the Morris County College, March 26 at the Tweeter Center in Camden, and May 14 in Trenton. These dates are unconfirmed by the Office of Legislative Services and no process has yet been established to request permission to testify. ArtPRIDE will send another alert as soon as that information becomes available. ArtPRIDE will also need your presence at the departmental budget hearing. We want to pack those hearing rooms, so stay tuned!

Yes, there is a rally planned for Trenton, and we’re even thinking about a 2 day event on May 14 and 15! If you are interested in helping plan the rally, please contact Adele Batchelder at the ArtPRIDE office (609-443-3582). Think about how your group can make its presence known in its own unique and creative way! Stay tuned for more details. And thank you for the great job you all are doing! Your voice IS being heard, but we can’t let up now!

ArtPRIDE NJ, 165 Third St., #4A, Bordentown, NJ 08505
Phone & Fax: 609-443-3582, email - artpride@artpridenj.com, www.artpridenj.com