Please join us Thursday, June 12 for a Public Forum to discuss the Arts Council's cultural policy priorities for 2008-09. We will review progress on last year's priorities and solicit input on new issues facing our community. The forum is free, but registration is required. Please call ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or visit ProArtsTickets.org.

	Date:	Thursday, June 12, 2008
	Time:	4:00pm - 5:30pm
	Place:	Mozart Room, 600 Penn Avenue (Downtown)
	Note:	*Please use the Hoelzel Entrance on Sixth Street

Each year, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council's Advocacy Committee of the board of directors identifies a preliminary list of cultural policy priorities for the programming year. Members of the cultural community meet to discuss the proposed priorities. Topics include:

• Raise public awareness of the need for increased individual giving to the arts in Pittsburgh;
  
• Demonstrate Pittsburgh's leadership in the arts and promote the image of the region with a "seat at the table" with key constituent groups, including:   
  
  

  >	Maintain a strong focus on the arts for Pittsburgh Roars, Year of Glass & Pittsburgh 250;		Completed
  >	Continue to promote the inclusion of arts advocates on key boards, authorities, and commissions in Western Pennsylvania and statewide;
  >	Support the increase of state and local cultural tourism funding for Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania & ensure that the region's arts community has a seat at the Cultural Tourism table;
  >	Continue to participate in state and national Arts Advocacy efforts and other national events and conferences;

  
  
• Work closely with ARAD to support an increase in the arts' share of ARAD funding and to facilitate data collection among asset organizations; Completed
  
• Develop partnerships with research facilities to develop a collection of data that will advance the Arts Council's efforts and support the activities of the broader cultural community;
  
• Continue to work with the City of Pittsburgh's Mayor and Allegheny County Chief Executive's offices on articulating an arts agenda for the city and county;
  
• Continue to monitor the Amusement Tax and push for its ultimate elimination; Completed
  
• Continue to monitor the need for health care for independent artists.
• Encourage the advancement of arts education in the region by facilitating strategic connections between key organizations, individual advocates, and the community at large.