National Arts Advocacy Day 2014

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council to lead delegates to Capitol Hill, March 24 and 25

PITTSBURGH, PA - Continuing the trend of leading an annual delegation to the National Arts Advocacy Day, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council will take to the Hill on March 24 and 25, meeting with elected officials and asking for their support for the arts in the Greater Pittsburgh region.  Hosted by Americans for the Arts and cosponsored by 85+ national arts organizations, National Arts Advocacy Day is the largest gathering of its kind, bringing together a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations.  On March 24, Americans for the Arts will lead briefing discussions with grassroots advocates from across the country, including the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, followed by a day of direct action on March 25, when arts administrators, students, educators, and artists meet directly with members of Congress.  The primary points for this year’s briefing include support for key issues such as arts education policy, the charitable tax deduction, and funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Says Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, “Our goal is to ensure that our elected officials gain insight and understanding of how deeply their districts benefit from funds coming from the federal level to the State, then to their districts, and how this support makes a tangible difference in their communities.”  While approximately 6 – 10 Greater Pittsburgh arts non-profits receive direct grants from the NEA each year, approximately 40% of total NEA funding goes directly to state agencies, like the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.  Regional Pennsylvania organizations such as the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council partner with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to ensure equitable distribution of these funds, which assist arts non-profits and artists in reaching underserved communities with quality, relevant arts programming.

Last year, Pennsylvania sent the largest overall number of delegates to National Arts Advocacy Day, and it is anticipated that a large delegation will show this year, as well.   The Pittsburgh constituency will include staff members from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania as well as Master of Arts Management students from Carnegie Mellon University.  Meetings are anticipated with Rep. Michael F. Doyle (D), Rep. Mike Kelly (R), Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R), Rep. Keith Rothfus (R), Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D), Sen. Pat Toomey (R).