Arts Advocacy in the District of Columbia!

I thought I would share with you the need to be involved in advocacy efforts to retain and expand arts opportunities and funding in the District of Columbia. I am sharing this message from from Ron Bettman of DC Advocacy for the Arts via FACEBOOK:

"Dear Advocates:

The arts took a huge hit in last year’s budget – far larger by percentage than most city agencies. On April 1st the Mayor released his draft FY 2011 budget, proposing an additional 12% cut from last year's reduced funding levels.

What can you do about this?

Sign up to testify at the budget hearing for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and at the hearing speak up about how important support for the arts is to your work, your business, your neighborhood, your children, and this city. To sign up to testify contact Antonio Brentini at 727-6683 or e-mail sbrentini@dccouncil.us. The budget hearing occurs Wednesday, April 21st from 2pm at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. Room 412.

If you’d like help preparing your testimony, you can look on our website for information and examples, and/or attend our public meeting April 14th, 9:30-10:45am at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. Southeast, Washington, DC (two blocks from Eastern Market metro.) We get as a community what we’re willing to fight for. Please sign up to testify today. Check here for more information.

Reminders:

National Arts Advocacy Day is April 12th and 13th, 2010. Participating is a great way to meet like-minded colleagues, and make a difference. If you have not yet registered do so today, here.

If you can’t take the time off from work, but would like to be a part of National Arts Advocacy Day, you can attend the Hanks Lecture, this year given by The Honorable Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina and founder of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design. The Hanks Lecture is free, but tickets are required. To get your tickets register here"