While it has been reported that the Governor has considered restoring some funds, it is important to note that the state budget for arts and history remains at $0. We are glad to know that the Governor and his staff are hearing from YOU that cultural funding is important to residents of New Jersey in so many ways. Thank you for shouting loud and clear. It has made a difference!

The arts and history communities are united in this advocacy campaign. Our job is to KEEP THE HEAT ON, and not get distracted from our goal of FULL restoration of arts and history funding. Remember the following points:

•When arts funding was cut by 60% in 1991, it took 10 years to get it restored!

•Within 18 months of that reduction, 21 groups ceased operation. Another 29 shrank to the point of losing eligibility for future funding. There has been significant growth in the cultural community since then—we now have a lot more to lose!

•We started down the slippery slope last year with a 10% reduction in arts funding. The history community has suffered even greater losses. Any additional cuts will be devastating to cultural groups—many organizations will be forced to close others will have to eliminate education and outreach programs.

•The Council on the Arts, NJ Cultural Trust and Historical Commission ensure public accountability for the investment of tax dollars. It is critical that these agencies be preserved!

The pressure needs to continue until June 30. Please let your elected officials know that you will accept nothing less than full funding for the arts and history in New Jersey! Visit ArtPRIDE’s online Arts Crisis Resource Room at http://www.artpridenj.com for the Legislative Advocacy Packet that contains these talking points and more to inform your visits, letters, faxes, emails and phone calls!

Over 20 representatives of the cultural community testified on Tuesday at the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee’s open public budget hearing at Morris County College. Remaining dates are March 25 (Assembly Budget Committee) at the Barry D. Brown Health Education Center of Virtua Health in Voorhees, Camden County, March 26 (Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee) at the Tweeter Center in Camden, and May 14 (Senate) at Committee Room 4 of the State House Annex in Trenton. You may register to testify online at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us People who benefit from public arts funding should consider standing up for restoration of state cultural dollars—artists, vendors, arts trustees, volunteers, etc. ArtPRIDE can help you develop your testimony—we’re all in this together!

If you are scheduled to testify on March 25 or 26, please notify ArtPRIDE immediately, so we can make sure you have the most recent information available to aid you in preparing your remarks. We would also appreciate a copy of your testimony for our files.

Even if you don’t testify, your presence is needed to support those who do! Other upcoming dates include testimony by the Secretary of State at Senate and Assembly hearings on April 28 and May 8 in Trenton. We NEED your support at all of these hearings! If you want to be part of the action, call ArtPRIDE at 609-443-3582.

This week the Jersey City Museum and Paper Mill Playhouse are applauded for having the most letters copied to ArtPRIDE by board members and patrons! And through YOUR collective efforts, over 6,000 emails in support of arts and history funding have been sent to legislators using the ArtPRIDE web site.

Keep distributing and collecting postcards, petitions, and sample letters to your constituents. Copy as many as possible to ArtPRIDE, and remember we have a new mailing address:
165 Third St., #4A, Bordentown, NJ 08505.

On April 16 Governor McGreevey will take calls from the public live on NJ 101.5 FM radio’s Ask the Governor show from 7-8 pm. For more information and to register your call online the night of the broadcast, click on http://www.nj1015.com/news/ask-the-governor/ask-the-gov.html Ask your question about restoration of arts and history funding!!

Yes, gang, the rally is set for Wednesday, May 14, the day of the final open public budget hearing in Trenton. Start lining up your group to participate and think of creative ways to let our legislators know that the arts are important to our state. Volunteers should contact Adele Batchelder at the ArtPRIDE office at 609-443-3582. More details will be available shortly!