From left: Fireworks; Jenny Holzer, For the Guggenheim, light projection (2008); Leo Villareal, Flag, LED lights (2008)

NYFA’s Arts Advocacy section regularly provides up-to-date listings of select arts advocacy issues at the local, state, and federal levels. These listings are for current legislation efforts, which if approved will have a direct impact on artists and arts workers across the country.

Don't Let Proposed NYSCA Budget Cut Go Unchallenged!
On April 27, Governor David Paterson proposed a 40% cut to NYSCA local assistance grant funding as part of a plan to close the state budget gap for 2010-11. His proposal will slash NYSCA funding from $41.6 million in 2009-10 to $25.2 million in 2010-11, making this the largest cut of any state agency. This plan reduces the state's per capita spending on the arts from $2.48 to 77 cents, dropping New York below the national average of 90 cents and putting the state at 26th in the nation. All this makes little sense in a state where the arts have an economic impact of $25.7 billion dollars and generate more than 345,000 jobs in over 54,000 arts businesses. Click here to contact your state legislators and the leadership in Albany, and urge them to reject the Governor's proposal. Tell them about the sacrifices you or your organization will be forced to make if its NYSCA funding were cut by 40%.

Vote to Increase the NEA Budget
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funds dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, local arts agencies, media arts, multidisciplinary, museums, music, musical theater, opera, presenting, theater, and visual arts. In addition to direct grants, the NEA provides important leadership that advances the arts sector through national initiatives, research, and publications. In July, the House set the initial funding level for the fiscal year of 2011 budget for the NEA at $170 million, which is a $2.5 million increase from the 2010 level, and a significant improvement to the $6.4 million cut proposed by the Obama administration in February.  This budget will be finalized by Congress later this year. Contact your legislators and ask that they support the $2.5 million funding increase for the NEA.

No Child Left Behind
With the pending reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Bill (last authorized in 2002 as the No Child Left Behind Act) comes the opportunity for music and arts education to be redefined as “core” academic subjects. This redefinition would provide new and numerous opportunities for public school students across the country to explore and enjoy music, theater, dance, and visual art. Congress is expected to address this bill in early 2011. Americans for the Arts provides a template letter, customized according to zip code, here.

Support the Artist Deduction Bill
Under current legislation, artists who donate their work to nonprofit organizations may only claim a tax deduction for the cost of materials used. This stands in stark contrast to the rights afforded collectors such as museums, libraries, and schools, who may take a tax deduction for the fair-market value of the work. Under HR. 1126, the House Artist Deduction Bill, and S. 405, the Senate Artist Deduction Bill, artists would be enabled to take a fair-market value deduction for works given to and retained by nonprofit organizations. Click here to send either an original or pre-formulated letter to your state Senators and Representatives, urging them to co-sponsor the Artist Deduction Bill.

Justice for Jazz Artists
In 2007, Associated Musicians of Greater New York (Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians) helped to convince New York State to eliminate the sales tax on admission to jazz clubs. State legislators expected that the tax relief money would be used by Local 802 and New York jazz clubs to the benefit of performing jazz musicians. Now Local 802 is petitioning New York’s jazz clubs–including Birdland, The Blue Note, Iridium, Jazz Standard, (le) poisson rouge, Smoke, Sweet Rhythm, and The Village Vanguard–to work alongside the union to put the tax relief money toward the American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund on behalf of performing jazz musicians. To sign a petition urging New York jazz clubs to contribute to the pension fund, click here.