Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council responds to calls to eliminate the NEA

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

Pittsburgh, PA - As the voice of the arts in our region, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is working closely with state and federal colleagues such as Citizens for the Arts in PA and Americans for the Arts to galvanize local arts leaders and supporters against potential funding cuts to the National Endowments for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the privatization of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. On Thursday, January 19, 2017, Americans for the Arts CEO Bob Lynch received an alert that two Trump transition team advisors recommended the funding cuts. On January 26, 2017, as a member of Americans for the Arts (AFTA), Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council received a letter from Bob Lynch, detailing his response, which included an initial letter to President Trump, with plans for a follow up letter and a petition of the signatures of 100,000 Americans. Mr. Lynch called on members and friends of AFTA to sign the petition, call our elected officials, and stay informed as the situation unfolds (see action steps, below).

Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and chair of Citizens for the Arts in PA stated,“We are apprised of actions for each of us to take now, to ensure a unified voice in support for these important cultural assets. The arts touch many facets of our lives: jobs, tourism, education, human services, economic development – the arts are a part of our everyday lives.” Mr. Swain is currently in Phoenix at a meeting of the U.S. Urban Arts Federation, convened by Americans for the Arts. Federal arts and culture policy will be a prime topic and the meeting, and there will be a representative from the NEA present. He continued, “I will be in touch soon with more information on how you can become part of a unified force for the arts both in our region and nationwide, into the future.”

Nationally, the arts represent 4.2% of the GDP, rivaling the construction industry and more than the medical and legal industries, combined. The arts represent a good return on investment: for every dollar spent on the arts, there is a $9 return on investment (national average). As arts research indicates, the arts are vital to the health of the Pittsburgh region in a number of ways, too: jobs, tourism and economic development in the form of cultural districts, among other factors. In Allegheny County, the arts are responsible for $75 million in taxes, annually.

For the past several years, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council has been the recipient of an NEA Art Works grant to provide programming that increases accessibility in the arts for people with disabilities. In 2016, Office of Public Art received one of just two NEA Our Town grants in the state of Pennsylvania, a significant award to fund artist residencies in the public realm, linking artists with immigrant communities. Other Pittsburgh arts organizations such as Pittsburgh Opera, Mattress Factory Museum, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, City of Asylum, and City Theatre have received support from the National Endowment for the Arts for their programming. And, 40% of NEA funding is allocated to states through organizations such as Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, which distribute these funds to communities across the state in support of public programs that benefit citizens, such as festivals and public exhibitions. Under the new administration, Pittsburgh, a sanctuary city, may lose NEA funding for arts programs.

Action steps recommended by Americans for the Arts and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council:

Call your Senators and Congressperson. Find their contact info, here.
Sign the Americans for the Arts official petition to support the NEA, NEH, and CPB. Bob Lynch, CEO and President of Americans for the Arts, plans on taking another letter to President Trump with the signatures of 100,000 Americans – let your name be counted.
Sign up to receive Action Alerts from Americans for the Arts, right here with the Arts Action Fund (it’s free), follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube . This is the source for the latest information and to know what actions to take. They have created a Response Team ready to send you the latest information and action steps to take.
Locally, on Thursday, March 2 at 3pm the public is invited to join Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council for a briefing on federal policy issues concerning the arts in Pittsburgh at the event “Federal Arts Policy: a Time for Action!” Registration, here.
The Americans for the Arts' National Arts Advocacy Day, March 20-21 in Washington, D.C., is a further opportunity to strategize and meet directly with elected officials, we are an active part of this convening, too. Early Bird registration ends on Tuesday, and please contact David Pankratz should you have any questions. Registration and information, here.
Inform Americans for the Arts of any specific actions impacting the arts in your community as a result of the President's new executive order on sanctuary cities. Please send an e-mail to Ruby Harper at rharper@artsusa.org.