What’s all the hub-bub?

Last week the Georgia House of Representatives passed their fiscal year 2011 budget, which includes eliminating Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA). Remaining grant funds would be transferred to the Department of Community Affairs, leaving Georgia the only state or territory in the nation without an arts agency.

So, what’s at stake?

A lot. According to Susan Weiner, Executive Director of the Georgia Council for the Arts, “GCA receives the National Endowment for the Arts State Partnership Grant with a value of almost $900,000 as well as additional funding from regional arts agency South Arts of $200,000,” she said. “These grants require receipt by a state entity with a mission and programming that is dedicated to the arts. Neither the Georgia Arts Alliance nor the Department of Community Affairs fulfills these requirements. Georgia stands to lose more than one-million dollars in national and regional funding if this agency is eliminated.”* The NEA has confirmed that the Georgia Council for the Arts is the only Georgia state agency that meets its partnership requirements.

In addition to money lost from national and regional funding sources, Georgia stands to loose money in the form of tax revenue and tourist dollars. According to a recent study conducted by Price-Waterhouse Coopers, 380 arts and cultural organizations in the state had a net impact of $387 million and contributed more than $18.6 million in tax revenue.* And according to the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition, nonprofit arts and culture groups brought in $722 million in 2009, with $386 million going into the state’s economy.****  Cuts in funding will result in a loss of some of these reliable revenue streams.

Add to the loss of funding and revenue the loss of jobs. Yes, no one goes into a career in the Arts to make lots of $$, but one does hope to be able to at least find employment. Sadly many who have dedicated their lives to the Arts have found themselves unemployed in the past year due to general budget cuts and falling oraganizational incomes (people such as myself). With further cuts Georgia will loose yet more jobs.

And finally you can’t ignore the cost to Georgia’s overall image. The dubious distinction of being the only state without an arts agency will certainly impact how the “quality of life” in Georgia is judged by businesses and corporations looking to open new offices and move organizational headquarters.

Please tell me there is some good news.

There is! While the Arts Council cuts in the 2011 budget have been approved by the House, they must still pass the Senate and be signed by Governor Perdue.

Great!  What can I do?

For the most impact, contact members of the appropriations subcommittee that handles the budget for GCA, Economic Development, and remind them of the economic impact the arts have on Georgia.  The subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville), includes Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamagua), Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle), Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) and Sen. George Hooks (D-Americus). ****  Remember, this is the the Economic Development subcommittee- let them know how cutting the GCA will affect economic development in GA!

Additionally, calls, letters and e-mails to the budget conferees below should continue until the session ends on April 29:

Rep. Ben Harbin (R-Evans): ben.harbin@house.ga.gov; 404.463.2247

Rep. Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons): jerry.keen@house.ga.gov; 404.656.0152

Rep. Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta): jan.jones@house.ga.gov; 404.656.5072

Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville): jack.hill@senate. ga.gov; 404-656-5038

Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock): chip.rogers@senate.ga.gov; 404-463-1378

Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) (an artist and gallery owner <3): tommie.williams@senate.ga.gov; 404-656-0089

Want something a little more low impact?  You can also sign the petition over at the Save the Georiga Council for the Arts site.  And remember to use social media and good old fashioned face to face conversations spread the word about this important issue!

Sources

*Source: http://www.theweekly.com/news/2010/April/19/Susan_Weiner.html

** Source: http://www.ajc.com/news/state-cutbacks-put-georgia-465850.html

***Source: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/culturesurfing/2010/04/17/what-can-you-do-to-help-save-georgia-council-for-the-arts/

****Source: http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=143037&catid=3

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Looking for a bit of artistic inspiration for the new year? Why not look back to the past? The Morgan Library and Museum has a fantastic exhibition up through March, “Protecting the Word: Bookbindings of the Morgan.” And if you’re like me and not likely to make it to New York by spring don’t fret, the Museum has put 9 beautiful books up online for you to browse. There’s even a really nice zoom feature to get closer to the books than I suspect you’d be able to get even if you did visit. My only gripe is that the online version of the exhibition focuses far more on cover design/ construction than actual sewn binding construction (oh, if only they’d included a spine view of the 7th-8th century Coptic cover of the Gospels!). But overall it is well worth a visit for a bit of old inspiration for the new year. Enjoy!

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Now through September 6th, head over to the Spruill Center for the Arts and take in the show “Solace” by Atlanta artist Lisa Alembik. Gestural, textured and haunted- Lisa’s work is amazing and feels right at home in the Spruill’s weathered farmhouse walls. Be sure to also check out Lisa’s intricate and detailed drawings, lovingly housed in three custom Re:Paper books (crafted and bound by yours truly)!

appearances, art, custom order | No Comments »