Dear Arts Supporter:
The Executive Budget, the governor’s spending plan for the 2013-14 fiscal year, was recently released to the legislature and will be debated vigorously during the upcoming session beginning on April 8th.
As you know, the Louisiana Citizens for the Arts (LCA) has battled budget cuts in prior years to the Decentralized Arts Funding Program (DAF) and the Statewide Arts Grants Program (SAG) and your voice has been instrumental to that campaign. We are cautiously optimistic that our collective voices are being heard based upon the current posture of the budget, which continues DAF at the same level as the current fiscal year, and the SAG funds actually have a small increase from the amount appropriated last year.
Overall, this news is better than we anticipated, but the news is also troubling because most of the “arts” money is coming from the Lieutenant Governor’s tourism budget. However, with a projected $1 billion shortfall looming, there could be others that will want to take the arts funding and use it for other projects.
The LCA’s ability to be vigilant during the upcoming session and keep you abreast of developments depends upon contributions by concerned citizens like you. Your contributions ensure the continued fight to keep cultural programs in your area viable. Please make your gift today by clicking the “Donate” button on the right side of this page.
We will keep a close eye on, and inform you of, the 2013 legislative session and its impact on the arts programs that mean so much to Louisiana’s citizens. Watch for Action Alerts, and please share our emails and alerts with friends, family and coworkers.
Christie Weeks, Chair
Tommy Usrey, Co-chair for Advocacy
Gerd Wuestemann, Co-chair for Advocacy
P.S. Follow us on Facebook for news, arts opportunities, and information about the impact of the arts on our economy, our students’ ability to be successful in today’s world, and the strength of our communities: Facebook.com/LouisianaCitizensArts.
Louisiana Citizens for Culture 