CAM encourages you to send a letter to your state legislators today asking them to maintain arts funding. In the next few months, the legislature and the governor’s office will deliberate and decide on a final arts budget. Follow the link below to ask your legislators and the governor to maintain the $1 million allocation from the State General Fund for the California Arts Council. We encourage you to personalize the sample letter by adding a paragraph about your organization and/or information on how cuts in arts funding have negatively impacted your institution and your community.

Thank you for supporting the continuation of public arts funding in California. Please feel free to contact Celeste DeWald, Executive Director, at the CAM office at (831) 471-9970 or cam@calmuseums.org with any questions or comments you may have.

INSTRUCTIONS

Take Action Now! Click on the link below (or copy this URL, paste it in address, and hit “go” to access the website) http://capwiz.com/artsusa/ca/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6890741

This link will take you directly to the sample letter, which you may edit and personalize. You will be asked to enter your own name and address. You will not need to enter your legislators’ information because your zip code automatically sends your message to your elected officials.

BACKGROUND ON CAC FUNDING

In 2003, after a lengthy budget process, the state reduced arts funding by 94%. The California Arts Council (CAC), responding to deep funding cuts, worked with the arts community, the legislature and the governor’s office to streamline their programs. The result was a suspension of CAC grant programs and a 50% reduction in staff. Despite these cuts that put California last in the nation in terms of arts support, CAC continued to provide leadership, information, and technical assistance and awarded 150 grants totaling $679,000 throughout the state. The proposed FY2005-06 budget for the California Arts Council is $3.059 million. It includes: $1.153 million from the State General Fund, $968,000 from the Arts License Plate funds and $938,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. We look forward to the leadership of Muriel Johnson as the new director of the California Arts Council.