09/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2024 09:56
AFTA's summer started strong in July, as the organization convened 12 national arts leaders from nine states across the nation for a highly anticipated, two-day Legislative Fly-In, the second in 2024. Hailing from Alabama, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin, these dedicated arts advocates united in Washington, DC, to collectively advocate for Arts Education and legislation addressing predatory ticket sales.
"This year has been such a success in so many ways for Americans for the Arts already," said Tooshar Swain, Americans for the Arts' Director of Public Policy. "We are particularly proud of our advocacy work, because it benefits so many artists across the country. Our Fly-Ins help dedicated representatives from local arts agencies make their cases to their federal elected officials with tangible results. On a national scale, we are deeply grateful for the funding measures that have increased arts budgets for the benefit of all Americans."
The impressive Fly-In cohort participated in a comprehensive day of training led by Americans for the Arts and its Arts Action Fundleaders, delving deep into the pertinent topics concerning their respective states. The following day, they met with their state's Congressional representatives in both the Senate and House to discuss and advocatefor:
AFTA successfully supported several budget measures proposed this summer that increased arts spending or defeated proposed cuts to arts spending. As a result of AFTA's and others' advocacy efforts from across the nation, the Senate Appropriations Committee allocated an increase in funding for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in the FY'25 Interior Appropriations bill, representing a $2 million increase above current FY'24 funding levels for each agency.
Americans for the Arts also worked to soundly defeat two amendments in the U.S. House of Representatives which sought to cut the NEA and NEH funding by approximately 25 percent. The NEA amendment failed on a voice vote due to the lack of support by both parties while the NEH amendment failed by an impressive vote of 269-to-147. This demonstrates the bi-partisan nature of arts and culture, which transcends politics. Amendments in the House to deeply cut arts funding at the NEA and NEH were also defeated.
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Established in 1960,Americans for the Arts(AFTA) is the nation's leading nonprofit organization advocating for the arts at the federal level in the United States. AFTA iscommitted to representing and serving local communities while fostering equitable access to and appreciation for all art forms.
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