Congress smacks the arts

News
On Friday, the Senate voted overwhelmingly (74-23!) in support of the “Coburn” amendment to explicitly ban any of the mammoth stimulus bill from being used by "...museums, theaters and arts centers..." I didn’t wake up looking for a government handout, but to be singled out like that stings. Forget for a moment all the ways that the arts have been proven to benefit education, put aside for a second all the ways the arts have been proven to benefit – or, if you will, stimulate – the economic and community development of a neighborhood, city, or state, even ignore the deep emotional need for a newly-built road to go somewhere other than only from your home to your work – just explain this to me: I’m an artist and a Minnesotan and an American. I pay taxes. I make my living in the arts. Why is it a national tragedy when a construction worker, an autoworker, or anyone else loses his or her job – and it is – but not so much for artists? We want every American to have “the dignity of work” – except artists? We want to keep everyone off the unemployment line – expect artists? We need to infuse the entire economy with money quick – doesn’t matter what it is, just get ‘em back to work – except artists? Seriously? Why the heck does it seem that I, as an arts worker, am somewhere only slightly more valued than undocumented immigrant when measured by the way my elected representatives look out for me? And, by the way, if there were a spitting emoticon, I’d use it every time I mentioned the Democrats. They have 58, soon to be 59, votes in the Senate, and they’re still going to let a defeated, philosophically bankrupt minority demonize the sector of American culture that cares more about the culture than the profit that might be squeezed from it? Below is a plan of action from the advocacy organization Americans for the Arts. Every little bit helps.

Plan of Action

  • Arts advocates need to quickly contact Senators who voted for the Coburn Amendment and express your extreme disappointment with their vote. We need these Senators to know that their vote would detrimentally impact nonprofit arts organizations and the jobs they support in their state. We have crafted a customized message for you to send to your Senators based on their vote on the Coburn Amendment. The correct letter, customized to each of your Senators will appear when you enter your zip code. If your Senator voted for this funding prohibition, you can send them a message expressing your disappointment and ask them to work to delete this language in the final conference bill with the House. If your Senator voted against the Coburn Amendment, you can thank them for their support of the arts. 

  • We need as many news articles as possible this coming week to publish stories about the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry and how the recession is negatively affecting arts groups across the country. Please click here to customize an opinion editorial to your local media. We have provided you with easy-to-use talking points.

  • Next week, Americans for the Arts will be sending you another action alert that targets the White House and the soon-to-be-named Senators and Representatives who will serve as conferees to the final economic recovery bill. Please be prepared to take action on this alert as well.

  • Americans for the Arts itself is submitting op-eds to several national newspapers and online blogs. We are enlisting high profile leaders to co-sign these letters as well.
 Americans for the Arts is purchasing full-page ads titled “The Arts = Jobs” in Washington’s top political newspapers in Roll Call, Politico and The Hill on Monday and Tuesday of next week. We encourage you to post the ad on your social network sites.

Alan M. Berks

Alan M. Berks is a Minneapolis-based writer whose plays have been seen in New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and around the Twin Cities. He helped create Thirst Theater a while back. Now, he’s the co-founder of this here magazine. He’s also written Almost Exactly Like Us, How to Cheat, 3 Parts Dead, Goats, and more.