Arts Council pushes for $5.4M boost to state arts funding on PA Arts Advocacy Day
On March 19, 2024, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council staff members traveled to Harrisburg to attend Pennsylvania Arts Advocacy Day. CEO Patrick Fisher, Director of Research and Cultural Policy, Morgan Kasprowicz, and Advocacy and Communications Associate, Ajani Zanaya Powell, spent the day advocating with legislators and their staff for a $5.4 million increase to state arts funding.
Every year on Pennsylvania Arts Advocacy Day, arts organizations and leaders across Pennsylvania gather at the Harrisburg Capitol building to advocate for policies that advance arts and culture in our commonwealth. We use this time to educate elected officials about the power of the arts in our communities and encourage them to support arts-friendly policies and greater arts funding.
We spoke with the PA Arts Caucus, along with the following legislative offices, and asked for their support in increasing the arts budget to $15 million:
- Sen. Lindsey Williams, 38th Senatorial District in Allegheny County
- Sen. Wayne Fontana, 42nd Senatorial District in Allegheny County
- Sen. Cris Dush, 66th Legislative District which covers Jefferson County
- Rep. Lindsay Powell, 21st Legislative District in Allegheny County
- Rep. Abigail Salisbury, 34th Legislative District in Allegheny County
- Rep. Arvind Venkat, 30th District in Allegheny County
- Rep. Tim Briggs, 149th District in Montgomery County
We supported our argument with the following facts:
- Pennsylvania currently sits at 33rd nationally in per capita spending on state arts agencies at just $.82 per capita, according to the NASAA State Arts Agency Revenue Report.
- This is significantly lower than our neighboring states of Maryland ($5.59/4th), Delaware ($4.73/8th), Ohio ($2.09/16th), New Jersey ($3.59/7th), and New York ($5.63/3rd).
- An increase to $15 million would increase our per capita spending to $1.16, ranking us 26th.
- The appropriations line item for grants for the arts has been a flat $9.59 million since 2015. That means commonwealth residents have lost $2.86 million for arts and culture around the state.
- The funding will be used to support direct grants to arts and culture organizations and individuals through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
We shared stories of how Pittsburgh arts organizations benefit from current NEA and state funding:
- Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator, a $2,000 grant distributed by the Arts Council and the PA Council on the Arts, to creative entrepreneurs in Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties. The grant program provides 44 creative entrepreneurs with small business consulting to grow businesses and revenue. The impact is demonstrated by the 13 part-time roles and 4 full-time roles that were created, along with the 79% of grantees reporting revenue increase to their creative businesses in 21-22’ year.
- Creative Sector Flex Fund, a $5,000 grant distributed by the Arts Council and the PA Council on the Arts, to arts organizations in Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties with average annual revenues between $10,000 - $200,000. This grant program offered 30 grantees the flexibility to use funding in the most significant impact for their organizations and communities, including the support of applicants’ administrative, programmatic, and project-related expenses.
In addition to stating the facts, we shared postcards that were made by Pittsburgh artists. Each card included a handwritten letter of support from Allegheny constituents advocating for the importance of the arts in our community. The postcards were well received, serving as a visual l reminder of the people the legislators represent. We appreciate all those who contributed their voice.
What we learned:
- Legislators we met with said they are committed to supporting the arts. As stated by Representative Lindsay Powell, “I support the arts. It is so important to make sure that our creatives here in Pittsburgh are thriving and I am committed to doing anything I can to make sure that happens.”
- Legislators want to hear more from you; they want to be invited to your events! Remember, they are community members too. It is important to our representatives that they can be involved with the community they represent. So start updating your legislators by sending them newsletters, tickets, and workshops that you are hosting. Unsure who represents your district? You can find your elected officials on this form.
Join us in our advocacy efforts by contacting your state legislators in support of this budget increase. It is imperative that you share stories about the importance of the arts in your life and community. Through our collective voices, we can advocate for policies that support the arts in Pennsylvania. Through our collective voices, we can make a difference.
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