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CAP was founded in 1990 to act as an advocate for the arts, serve the public by providing services and resources for county artists and arts organizations, and encourage collaboration among arts, education, business, civic and government organizations.Learn more
Published: May 5, 2010
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It's (still) budget season in Albany, and the arts are once again on the chopping block. Governor Patterson's latest budget proposal includes a 40% cut to the grants budget of the New York State Council on the Arts, reducing STATEWIDE support of artists and arts organizations from $41.6 million to $25.2 million. This is the largest proportional cut to any state agency, and reduces per capita spending on the arts in New York State to well below the national average of 90 cents.
More importantly, this cut will have no real impact on the State Budget as a whole. In last year's budget, NYSCA made up 1/32 of 1% of the total expenditures made by the State. Relative to the other line-items, hacking 40% away from an already infinitesimal NYSCA grants budget will amount to a savings of less than 1/100 of 1% of the total budget.
The result on our communities, however, could be devastating. Through our annual NYSCA funded grant programs, the Community Arts Partnership distributes more than $55,000 to local artists and arts organizations of every discipline. Many small organizations simply could not continue to deliver arts programming to Tompkins County without these grants. Likewise, larger arts organizations throughout the County-such as the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra; the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble; the Community School of Music and Arts; the History Center; and the Hangar, Kitchen and State Theatres-all rely on direct support from NYSCA to provide their services to our community.
The proposed cut wouldn't simply result in less art; it would directly result in the loss of jobs in communities all over our state. Government support of arts organizations, by and large, goes to fund staffing. For instance, if the Community Arts Partnership were to lose 40% of the funding it receives from NYSCA next year, not only would our programming and grant programs dramatically suffer, our already small staff of 2 and a half would need to be reduced. Arts organizations employ more than 340,000 people throughout the state, and they all will be facing a similar fate if the proposed cut is enacted.
At a time when the fight against rising unemployment in New York needs the most support, making this drastic cut out of a jobs-oriented program that already receives such a small percentage of the total State budget seems to fly in the face of Common Sense. Moreover, continued funding of the New York State Council on the Arts is one of the soundest investments Albany can make. As a business sector, the arts in New York State generate more than $27 billion annually. That's Billion. With a B. Spending $41 million to generate that kind of economic impact is a smart use of taxpayer dollars.
2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the NYSCA, a government agency created to support local arts programs throughout the state. With NYSCA, Governor Rockefeller envisioned a model state-wide arts council to which all other states aspire. He recognized that the arts can provide answers in times of crisis like the economic recession we face today. As we rebuild our economy, we the need the people and the organizations that teach our children to think creatively, that sustain our souls, and help change and build communities. Governor Patterson's proposed cuts threaten to tear down that vision and destroy New York's reputation as the State of the Arts.
As a supporter and lover of the arts, please take the time to print and mail to your legislators the postcard created by our friends at NYSArts. Just click here to print out the pre-formatted PDF, and write a brief note on how this drastic reduction in arts funding will affect your community. You'll find the names and addresses of State Legislators for Tompkins County in the sidebar at the left.
This is a crucial time, and a little effort made by a lot of people can have a powerful result in Albany. Thanks for your help towards CAP's goal of ensuring Arts for Life throughout Tompkins County!
