National Arts Advocacy Day 2015

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council to lead delegates to Capitol Hill, March 23 and 24, 2015

PITTSBURGH, PA - Continuing the trend of leading an annual delegation to National Arts Advocacy Day, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council will take to the Hill on March 23 and 24, meeting with elected officials and asking for their support for arts and culture.  Hosted by Americans for the Arts and cosponsored by 85+ national arts organizations, National Arts Advocacy Day is the largest gathering of its kind, bringing together a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations.  On March 23, Americans for the Arts will lead briefing discussions with grassroots advocates, including the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, followed by a day of office visits with elected representatives and their staffs on March 24.  GPAC representatives will meet with Rep. Michael F. Doyle (D), Rep. Mike Kelly (R), Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R), Rep. Keith Rothfus (R), Re. Bill Shuster (R), Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D), and Sen. Pat Toomey (R). This year’s primary briefing points include: U.S. Department of Education policy on arts education; Internet neutrality; support for military personnel and their families; funding for the National Endowment for the Arts; and charitable tax deduction policy. The complete Congressional Arts Handbook is located, here.

Says Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, “Our goal is to ensure that our elected officials gain insight and understanding of how deeply their districts benefit from funds coming from the federal level to the State, then to their districts, and how this support makes a tangible difference in their communities.”   Historically, Pennsylvania sends among the top number of delegates to National Arts Advocacy Day, and a large delegation will show this year, as well.   The Pittsburgh constituency will include staff members from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania as well as 14 Master of Arts Management students from Carnegie Mellon University.

While approximately 6 -10 Greater Pittsburgh arts non-profits receive direct grants from the NEA each year, approximately 40% of total NEA funding goes directly to state agencies, such as the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.  Regional Pennsylvania organizations such as the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council partner with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to ensure equitable distribution of these funds, which assist arts non-profits and artists in reaching underserved communities with quality, relevant arts programming.  GPAC’s policy efforts on the federal, state, and local level are inter-connected, reflected in the current effort to work with statewide colleagues on a policy briefing on arts, culture, tourism and education for Pennsylvania.