Americans for the Arts is asking for you to write your members of Congress and tell them to support funding for our nation’s cultural agencies. One click to the link above is all it takes.

The Administration released yesterday the FY 2011 budget request to Congress which includes the nation’s cultural agencies and programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS), and the Department of Education’s Arts in Education program.

As you know, the president’s budget is the first step in the appropriations process.  While it serves as an important framework, Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change these funding levels.  That’s where you come in.

Arts advocates can make their voices heard by writing their members of Congress, urging them to support funding for arts and culture through the NEA and to voice concern about the loss of focus for arts in education programs. We have provided you with customizable letters on both these issues, as well as several talking points to help you craft your message.  We recommend you add your own thoughts and stories about why the arts are important to you and your community.

In a press statement Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob Lynch said, “The Administration’s FY 2011 budget request of $161.3 million for the National Endowment for the Arts—while just a fraction of the $6.3 billion of direct expenditures for all arts nonprofits in the U.S.—is unfortunately a $6 million decrease from what Congress appropriated for FY 2010. We now turn to Congress to continue its investment trend in providing additional appropriations for the NEA.”

Help Americans for the Arts continue this important work by becoming an official member of the Arts Action Fund.  If you are not already a member play your part by joining the Arts Action Fund today — it’s free and simple.

President's FY 2010 Arts Funding Budget