Dear Friends,
I have spoken with some of you, however not with everyone regarding the state budget cuts. Please read the email below from Ann Marie Miller, Executive Director, ArtPride. Please follow the lead below on "Here's What You Can Do to Save NJ Arts." It is important that you take action personally and respond immediately.
We also ask that you forward to all those connected with you/your organization (see the list below for ideas) and ask them to write Governor McGreevey at http://www.nj.gov/governor/govmail.html or Governor James E. McGreevey, Post Office Box 001, Trenton, NJ 08625-0001. Be sure to also contact (write, email, fax, call, in person, etc.) your New Jersey State Legislative Representatives.
For those who can forward this information via email, fax or direct mail, please do so. Wherever possible, please also "post" for reading.
a.. Your audiences, customers, members, patrons, constituency, etc.
b.. Arts organizations
c.. Artists
d.. Galleries, theatres, cafes and other locations
e.. Businesses that serve the arts (and history)--i.e. Pearl Paints, Sam Ash, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.
f.. People that participate and enjoy the arts (and history)
g.. Family, friends, colleagues
h.. Community stakeholders
i.. Commuters (post at train stations and bus terminals)
j.. Businesses (all sizes) and corporations
k.. Community organizations
l.. Educational institutions (all levels including universities and colleges)
m.. Faith-based institutions
n.. Social-service organizations (arts are a part of many of these organizations)
o.. Hospitals and the medical community
p.. Hospitality and Tourism (hotels, restaurants, cafes, etc.)
q.. Chambers of Commerce, and Industry, etc.
r.. Libraries
s.. Courts (make copies or post in a place for jurors to read and take action)
Let's continue to SAVE THE ARTS IN NEW JERSEY!!!!
Thanks so much.
Best,
Susan
Susan Koblin Schear
ArtIsIn, LLC
Business Development Services for the Arts
www.artisin.com
[log in to unmask]
(201) 599-9180 phone
(201) 634-0311 fax
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 1:04 PM
Subject: News update from Ann Marie Miller
Volume 2, Number 4
ArtPRIDE New Jersey
130 West State St. Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone/Fax:609-443-3582
[log in to unmask]
www.artpridenj.com February 7, 2003
GOVERNOR MCGREEVEY ELIMINATES CULTURAL FUNDING-HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE NJ ARTS!
THE FACTS
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
WHAT WILL HAPPEN & WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
WHO TO CONTACT WITH IDEAS AND HELP
THE FACTS
On Monday, representatives of arts and history groups were called to the State House where Governor McGreevey announced that all cultural funding would be eliminated in his budget proposal to be made public on Tuesday. Besides all grant funding for the NJSCA, the NJ Cultural Trust and the NJ Historical Commission, 30 positions staffing these agencies were also eliminated. The Department of State took a disproportionate budget hit when compared to other departments wit h 86% of the budget, or $42 million cut
The Governor told those present to "scream bloody murder" to a legislature that demanded he cut $300 million more from a budget that was suffering from "the perfect (economic) storm."
The next day the Governor, in his budget message said, ".we must preserve and enhance the values and quality of life embodied by New Jerseyans from the Delaware to the Shore and from High Point to Cape May." Tell him and the state legislators that there will be no discussion about values or quality of life in New Jersey without the arts and culture! Be angry--this is barbaric!
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WHAT'S HAPPENING
What's happening is that you have written over 1,500 emails to legislators over the past 3 days, expressing support of the arts! And legislators are writing back pledging to help restore arts funding!
At the State House on Monday, Jeff Woodward, President of ArtPRIDE, invited all present to an already scheduled ArtPRIDE board meeting in New Brunswick on Wednesday at the State Theatre. Word of mouth gathered about 60 representatives of arts groups throughout the state. The Honorable Regena L. Thomas, Secretary of State, joined the discussion and reinforced the Governor's message and understanding that this elimination of funds would cause great pain to the arts community and the general public. S he echoed the Governor's request to yell loud and clear that these cuts are unacceptable.
About 90 minutes was spent hearing ideas on how to proceed with advocacy strategies dealing with grassroots, the legislature and other elected officials, the media, and funding.
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WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT & WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
ArtPRIDE is planning to coordinate:
. A statewide postcard campaign;
. Continuation of letter writing, faxes, emails, phone calls
and most importantly, in person meetings with members of the legislature, freeholders and mayors;
. Curtain speeches at performing arts institutions;
. An ad campaign;
. Opinion editorials;
. A major arts rally in Trenton;
. Web site banners linking to ArtPRIDE for information;
. Petitions signed by students at universities and colleges throughout the state
And this is just the beginning!
Here's what you can do right now!
. Make copies of a flyer and insert them into your event programs,
prominently display them in your lobby, or insert them into your newsletter;
. Have a curtain speech or pre-performance announcement;
. Have audience members sign a petition denouncing this elimination of funds;
. Write an opinion editorial to your local newspaper;
. And by all means, continue to write, fax, call, email and meet with your legislators.
Get the information from the web site action alert in your email lists and pass the word on to family (including your children), friends and colleagues.
< b>And PLEASE copy ArtPRIDE on all that you do so we can continue to monitor the noise you make in Trenton and beyond!
There are talking points, sample flyers, curtain speeches, opinion editorials, and petitions in ArtPRIDE's ARTS CRISIS RESOURCE ROOM. Go to www.artpridenj.com, click on the action alert that will take you to the resource room. You will find these resources available for downloading by the end of today (Friday, 2/7).
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WHO TO CONTACT WITH IDEAS, OFFERS OF HELP
Offers of help are coming in from volunteers, businesses, prominent business leaders, educators, and all those whose lives are affected by the arts in New Jersey each and every day. People from as far away as Bristol, England are expressing outrage at this blatant disregard of what brings pride to our state. Our neighbors in New York and Pennsylvania and our friends in Washington DC have also offered assistance.
We need EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! If you want to attend an upcoming public meeting and/or if you have ideas on how you can help, please contact our ArtPRIDE board members who are chairing the following areas of concern, or contact the ArtPRIDE office at 609-443-3582.
Grassroots Advocacy (including education)
Berda Rittenhouse - 908-995-4279 or [log in to unmask]
Legislative Advocacy (including state, county and local elected officials)
Mark Packer (Appel Farm Arts & Music Center) 856-358-2472 or [log in to unmask]
Barry Taylor 609-628-2761 or [log in to unmask]
Media (print, tv, radio, Internet)
Jeff Norman (NJ Performing Arts Center) 973-297-5838 or [log in to unmask]
Funding
John McEwen (NJ Theatre Alliance) 973-593-0189 or [log in to unmask]
HELP US FIGHT THE FIGHT!
RESTORE CULTURAL FUNDING!
KEEP OUR CULTURAL AGENCIES AT THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF STAFFING & SUPPORT!
WE CARE ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S ARTS!
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