The current executive budget directly targeted State Arts Funding with an initial $2.4 million or 50% cut to both State Arts Grants and Decentralized Arts Funding.
The remaining funds are barely adequate to maintain programs on life-support. We must ask our legislators to restore a minimum of 75% of the proposed cuts to the budget.
Last year the legislature recognized that these investments to our Cultural Economy fuel a $10 billion industry that supports 148,500 jobs and generates a $7-to-$1 direct return to the State. As a result, House and Senate restored funding.
This year, the House added $750,000 back to Decentralized. We urge the Senate to leave this funding in place in the final amended budget.
At present, the budget still reflects a crippling $600,000 cut to Statewide Arts Grants in addition to the initial $1.4M cut in the executive budget. This reduces Statewide Arts Grants from $2.3M at the beginning of the past fiscal year, to $340,000 for the coming year.
We urge the Senate to reinstate $1.6M, or 75% of the cuts to Statewide Arts Grants.
The collective amount for all arts funding in the State is under $4 Million. This small amount of money generates significant economic growth in the most rural parishes, creates stronger communities, develops quality-of-life that in turn attracts and retains talent and educates our children.
There are only a few days left to the end of the budget session on Monday June 21. Please help us carry this message loud and clear to our Senators and Representatives.
Take a few minutes to send a message through Capwiz, write or email your local legislator or call them and urge them to protect cultural life in Louisiana.
Louisiana Citizens for Culture 