Arizona Arts Needs SUPPORT

Hi my family and friends-
Please read this and realize what is happening to the arts in Arizona. The Arizona Commission on the Arts provides grants for schools, artists and musicians to have great arts programs offered to our students, provides operating support to many local non-profit arts organizations and most of all, keeps the community involved in making life that much better through the arts. I have personally written handfuls of grants to bring local musicians into schools and to help the organizations I believe make a difference to keep going. To cut the Commission's funding by 40% would mean students missing out on artist-in-residence programs, arts organizations already strained possibly folding and our morale of our arts community sinking to further levels.

Whether you live in Phoenix or not, drop a quick email on our behalf. We have countless friends and colleagues who will be affected by this, along with thousands of school children we all represent.

Please consider your support.

Thanks-
Linda

Attention 2008 Southwest Arts Conference and Arts Congress participants:

We thank you for your participation in these statewide arts events and for your support of the health and vitality of arts and culture in our great state. As valued members of the community, we hope you will join our effort to defend the future of the arts in Arizona!

The Natural Resources Committee will hear Senate Bill 1330 on Wednesday, February 27, 2008. Call and/or email Natural Resources Committee members and State Senators by clicking "Take Action!" above and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 1330 (SB 1330). This bill proposes a permanent reduction to the Arizona Commission on the Arts grants budget of 40%: approximately $1.6 million annually. SB 1330 proposes the transfer of the Arts Trust Fund (received from a portion of Corporation Commission filings) to the Department of Mines for safety issues surrounding abandoned mines. Following is an Action Alert, by clicking on the link that says “Click Here to Take Action” you will be redirected to a page that allows you to compose an e-mail message to your Senator. We also advise that you target the natural resources committee members in particular.

If you have already taken action on this issue, thank you! Please forward this message to any advocate that has not acted on this important issue.

		URGENT! TAKE ACTION NOW! Contact state senators regarding SB 1330- cuts ACA grants budget by 40% URGENT! Tell your legislators to Vote NO on SB 1330 Click HERE to Take Action! Bill would reduce Arizona Commission on the Arts grant funds by 40% Call and/or Email Natural Resources Committee members and State Senators and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 1330. This bill proposes a permanent reduction to the Arizona Commission on the Arts grants budget of 40 % (approx. $1.6 million annually). SB 1330 proposes the transfer of the Arts Trust Fund (received from a portion of Corporation Commission filings) to the Department of Mines for safety issues surrounding abandoned mines. TAKE ACTION NOW! 1) Contact state senate and committee members: Arizona State Senate Member Roster Natural Resources Committee Members Amanda Aguirre Dist 24 Marsha Arzberger Dist 25 Robert Blendu Dist 12 Jake Flake, Chairman Dist 5 Chuck Gray Dist 19 Karen Johnson Dist 18 Leah Landrum Taylor Dist 16 2)-Attend the committee hearing: Natural Resources and Rural Affairs-Chairman Flake. Wednesday February 27 at 1:30 p.m. Senate Hearing Room 109 Capitol Complex, 1700 West Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890