Maryland Arts Funding Under Fire from Governor

If you live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, you very likely have frequented a dance studio or performance space in Maryland. From Black Rock in Gaithersburg to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, from the Music Center at Strathmore to the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in Takoma Park, from American Dance Institute in Rockville to Joy of Motion in Bethesda, dance is alive and thriving in Maryland. That's why the following message from the Montgomery County (Maryland) Arts & Humanities Council is so worrisome. Please take the few minutes necessary to make your voice heard via a letter, a sample of which is below. -- L.T.

Dear Colleague:

On Monday, Governor O'Malley announced that a Special Session of the General Assembly will be held to pass legislation to close the projected $1.7 billion deficit in the State's operating budget. The Special Session will begin on October 29. The Governor has proposed a package of revenue enhancements and budget reductions that will close the deficit. 

A group of trustees from Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA) and other members of the arts community met with senior officials of the O'Malley Administration last week to discuss State Arts Council funding.  During our discussions, it became evident that without a revenue based solution to the deficit, significant budget reductions will need to be made across state government and the Arts Council budget will not be spared. The amount of the reduction to the Arts Council could be $2 million or more which would have a large impact on grants to organizations. (FYI-Now the Governor has proposed in his doomsday plan a total defunding of the Maryland State Arts Council. )

We as a community are facing a very difficult situation. At a time when arts organizations' budgets are under increasing pressure, there's a real possibility that State Arts Council grants will be cut by substantial amounts. MCA doesn't normally get involved in issues outside the arts.  However, because Arts Council funding levels are so dependent on how this budget deficit is solved, we believe that in this case we do need to be involved and take action.

MCA sent a letter to the Governor expressing support for his efforts to use a broad range of solutions to the deficit problem that include revenue enhancements and strategic budget reductions.  MCA is also sending letters to all members of the General Assembly. We have made similar letters available at www.mdarts.org and it is also below in this e-mail, that will make it easy for you and others to send emails or letters to the Governor and your State Senators and Delegates. Here is a list of our delegation http://www.montgomerycountydelegation.com/contact.html and it is also on the www.mdarts.org site. 

It will be helpful to the arts community both now and in the future, if the Governor and members of the General Assembly know that arts organizations across the state appreciate their efforts to solve the state's budget problem in a way that allows for continued growth in arts funding and that enables our longstanding goal of 10% to be reached at some point in the not too distant future.

This is very important as Montgomery County and YOUR organization could lose a lot. Please give me a call if you have any questions. 

I will keep you informed as I get more information. Thanks,

Theresa Cameron
CEO
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
301-565-3805

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SAMPLE LETTER

Honorable Martin O'Malley
Governor
State House
Annapolis, Maryland   21401

Dear Governor O'Malley:

Thank you for your many years of strong support for the arts community. The significance and value of having a rich and diverse mix of arts and cultural organizations in Maryland is unquestionable.  Arts organizations in the state add immeasurably to our quality of life and are key contributors to our strong economy. The arts in Maryland generate over 13,000 jobs, $34 million in state and local taxes and create an overall economic impact of nearly $1 billion dollars.

For thirty years, Maryland Citizens for the Arts has worked to promote the arts and increase funds for arts organizations. There has been a widely embraced and long standing goal to fund 10% of arts organizations' budgets with state grants. As you work on the state's budget for the next few years, we urge you to place a high priority on funding the arts and achieving the 10% goal.

We understand there is a $1.7 billion deficit projected in the state's budget for the upcoming fiscal year. We recognize the very difficult challenge you are facing in finding ways to balance the State's operating budget. We support Governor O'Malley's efforts to utilize a broad range of solutions including revenue enhancements and strategic spending reductions to fix the state's structural deficit. This will enable the state to continue to fund a wide spectrum of important government programs including the arts at levels necessary to maintain and improve the quality of life for all Maryland citizens.

Sincerely,