Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Goes to Washington

Pittsburgh’s regional arts community galvanizes to support federal arts policy and funding

Pittsburgh, PA, March 16, 2017…..Arts advocates from across the country will come together on March 20 - 21, 2017 in Washington, DC for Americans for the Arts annual Arts Advocacy Day. Arts Advocacy Day brings together a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations with more than 500 grassroots advocates from the 50 states, advocating for strong public policies and public funding for the arts. Among the issues at stake are President Trump’s proposed elimination of the NEA and NEH, Internet neutrality, arts education, and charitable tax giving to the arts – all targeted issues by the current federal administration. The Congressional Arts Handbook, which contains Americans for the Arts’ full policy briefing with 13 policy points, voting records of elected officials, and the facts and figures on the national impact of the arts may be downloaded, here. This year, 20 arts delegates from Southwestern Pennsylvania (see below), led by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, will join the Pennsylvania team, led by Jenny Hershour of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania. Monday, March 20 will focus on policy briefings and breakout sessions, ending at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the annual Nancy Hanks Lecture, featuring speaker Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, and a performance by Anna Deavere Smith. On Tuesday, March 21, arts delegates will gather in the Senate office building on Capitol Hill for remarks by Dr. Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, along with members of Congress and the Senate, followed by direct office visits with bipartisan elected officials (see below). See the full schedule of briefings, breakout sessions, and speakers, here.

Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council: “During this important time of budget season, it’s important that our elected officials understand the impacts of NEA funding and a federal commitment to arts and culture on our region. The NEA contributes approximately 3.2 million annually to this region, and for every one of those federal dollars, we see a $9 return on investment. I look forward to meeting with our elected officials again, as we do each year, to ensure a common understanding of the critical importance of arts and culture in Pittsburgh’s reemergence as a great city.” David Pankratz, Research and Policy Director for the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council: “We’re excited at the range and diversity of arts advocates from Southwestern PA attending Arts Advocacy Day. We’re also excited to be able to reach further into Southwestern PA, working in a bi-partisan manner to collaboratively and effectively respond to real concerns such as the proposed elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.”

Southwestern Pennsylvania Arts Delegates from Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties:

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council: Mitch Swain, Jen Saffron, David Pankratz
City Theatre: James McNeel
Kelly Strayhorn Theater: Melanie Paglia
Prime Stage Theatre/Pittsburgh Emerging Arts Leaders: Caitlin Skaff
Westmoreland Museum of American Art: Catena Bergevin, Joan McGarry
The Education Policy and Leadership Center: Ron Cowell
PA Rural Arts Alliance: Rebecca Catelinet
Carnegie Mellon University Master of Arts Management graduate students:
Yasmin Foqahaa, Emily Breedlove, Drew Porter, Amelia Nichols, Mary Elizabeth Geatches, Elizabeth Kane, Brittany Dies, Allison Pichowicz, Ellen Murphy

Senatorial and Congressional Meetings:

Rep. Lou Barletta (R), PA-11
Rep. Matt Cartwright (D) PA-17
Sen. Bob Casey (D)
Rep. Charlie Dent (R), PA-15
Rep. Mike Doyle (D), PA-14
Rep. Mike Kelly (R), PA-3, James Marsh, Legislative Correspondent
Rep. Tim Murphy (R), PA-18
Rep. Keith Rothfus (R), PA-12, Caroline Ehret, Legislative Assistant
Rep. Bill Shuster (R), PA-9, Christopher Buki, Legislative Assistant
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R), PA-5
Sen. Pat Toomey (R), meeting with Eric Andt

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About the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council champions the arts in Southwestern Pennsylvania, providing financial, professional, and political support for the arts and culture sector. Comprised of more than 600 diverse artists and nonprofit organizations, the Arts Council offers valuable research, legal and business consulting, networking and professional development opportunities so that artists, as well as arts leaders and organizations, can grow their skills and advance their practice. The Arts Council provides grants for artists and arts organizations, leads the region's arts advocacy at the local, state, and national level, and models best practices for accessibility and equity in the arts.

For interviews with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, image use requests, and any other media questions, please contact Manager of Communications Lisa Cunningham at 412-391-2060, ext. 227 or lcunningham@pittsburghartscouncil.org.