ARTS AND HERITAGE ADVOCACY CONTINUES
Visit our new website at www.advocate4culture.org!
We are optimistic that we have gained many new supporters in the legislature and we will succeed with our plans for future funding, and a strong cultural community in King County.
Your advocacy in writing letters and going to Olympia has helped brand the message that cultural workers are key partners with the legislature in their goals of: preserving the unique character of our region; building dense and attractive urban communities; investing in creativity; driving local economies; and encouraging tourism.
The arts and heritage funding we are working for is just a small percentage of the available visitor taxes. The legislature’s obligation is to disperse these taxes among a variety of causes that can steward tourism, while potentially addressing some of our regional economic and social service issues. Our opportunity is to position arts and culture at the center of these larger goals. Culture is part of the solution to regional problems.
What can you do now? Contact your legislators and let them know you support arts and heritage and hope they will too! We must continue, throughout the year, to remind them we are their constituents and they need to reflect our views in their votes.
Write, email or call. Tell them they represent you and you want them to vote in favor of arts and heritage in King County. Be brief and personal in your communication with legislators - let them know how and why arts and heritage funding in King County is important to YOU.
Here is a sample letter. Add your own personal touch.
Dear Senator/Representative ______________,
I’m writing to ask you to support arts and heritage this session. The request from 4Culture designates only a small portion of existing future local King County hotel/motel revenue sources to save heritage and arts program in King County.
These programs, managed by 4Culture was established by the Legislature in 1986. Their work in King County is very effective and widely popular, supporting hundreds of organizations and involving thousands of people.
These organizations provide jobs, promote tourism and enhance the quality of life in our communities. Unfortunately, in these tough times many arts and heritage organizations are hanging on by a thread.
Arts and heritage funding for the future is important to me and my community.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Contact Information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You've made a huge difference already. Attendance, calls and letters DO matter and help a great deal. We know the legislators have a lot on their plate with the terrible economy, but we believe lodging tax for arts and heritage can help save cultural jobs for cultural workers.
Thanks to the many of you who made the trip to Olympia for our last Public Hearings. We hope you and your friends can join us once again!
Background Information:
In 2008, thanks to many arts and heritage advocates, the legislature passed a bill that secured a portion of lodging tax funds for arts and heritage in King County. The only bummer with this bill is that it expires this summer (7/1/09). Yes, it is a bit strange for a law to expire before it becomes useful, but we take it as a positive sign that the legislators think culture matters.
In 2009, thanks to a few great advocates like Rep. Ross Hunter and Senator Ed Murray, we were able to move forward again. This year House Bills 2051 2252 and Senate Bills 6051 and 6116) were considered.
Thanks to the many of you who made the trip to Olympia for Public Hearings in the House Finance Committee and in the Senate's Ways and Means Committee on February 24th. Arts and Heritage advocates from throughout King County traveled to Olympia to sign in to support the bills.
We bet you're well aware of how funding for arts and heritage are being cut nationwide. We must hold on tight to the little we have here in King County. Please join us to preserve this valuable funding source for King County.
PHOTO: Members of Ipintombi Dancers rehearse for their performance in the fourth annual "Dance This," a showcase of traditional and contemporary dance performed by young dancers. Grant M. Haller / Seattle Post-Intelligencer
