Missouri Classical Music News and Notes

Many thanks to all of you who joined other arts advocates for Missouri Citizens for the Arts Citizens' Day at the Legislature in Jefferson City last Wednesday. It was a fabulous turnout and, we believe, really made an impact on our General Assembly. There certainly was an atmosphere of celebration last Wednesday!

We hope you found the day educational, enjoyable and motivating. Many thanks to the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition for the moving performance and the excellent face.africa exhibit created by the Missouri Fine Arts students for the wonderful additions to the day that helped display the value of what we are fighting for.

Each year, we must seek an appropriation for public funding for Missouri's arts industry and we appreciate greatly your contributions to this effort. Providing an educated, strong voice in support of the arts ensures the continued attention of the General Assembly toward this economically and educationally important industry.

Gov. Matt Blunt and First Lady Melanie Blunt helped celebrate the arts in Missouri by honoring the 2008 Arts Awards recipients and introducing the state's first Poet Laureate, a post the governor created.

"Art is important to all of us. Art attracts tourists, provides thousands of jobs, plays a role in business attraction and retention, strengthens communities, and bridges cultural divides," Gov. Blunt said. "I congratulate this year's Arts Award winners and thank them for their commitment to the arts and role in helping Missourians appreciate the diversity of art in our state."

Governor and Mrs. Blunt, along with the Missouri Arts Council, presented the awards to this year's recipients. The 2008 Arts Awards recipients include:

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Kansas City - Arts Education

Missouri Folklore, Columbia - Arts Organization

City of St. Joseph, St. Joseph - Creative Community

Linda Kennedy, St. Louis - Individual Artist

Marc Wilson, Kansas City - Arts Leadership

Gary Tatlow and the late Marilyn Silvey Tatlow, Columbia - Philanthropy

"The arts have an important and immeasurable impact on our culture and families," Mrs. Blunt said. "I believe the arts, in all media, enrich our lives and our perspective. I am honored to present the 2008 Arts Awards with my husband to those who are working to preserve and strengthen the arts in Missouri."

At the ceremony held at the State Capitol, Gov. Blunt introduced Walter Bargen, the state's first ever Poet Laureate. Mr. Bargen presented his original poem about Missouri to attendees. Gov. Blunt created the position of Missouri Poet Laureate to help promote the arts in Missouri and to encourage Missourians to learn more about the many cultural opportunities available in the state.

Gov. and First Lady Melanie Blunt are strong advocates for the arts in Missouri. First Lady Melanie serves as the honorary chair for Missouri Citizens for the Arts and has worked to promote arts across Missouri.

Since taking office, Gov. Blunt has significantly increased state funding for the Missouri Arts Council. In his Fiscal Year 2009 budget, Gov. Blunt has recommended $14.6 million total to support the Missouri Arts Council, a significant $6.8 million increase over the previous year's funding and more than 20 times the Fiscal Year 06 amount. The funding is the largest appropriation to the Missouri Cultural Trust Fund in the state's history. Additionally, Gov. Blunt will recommend a $4.5 million increase for the other Non-Resident Athletes and Entertainers Tax cultural partners, including the Humanities Council, Public Broadcasting, Historic Preservation, and State Library Networking. If approved, the governor's budget will include a total increase of $11.3 million for all cultural partners appropriated fund from the Non- Resident Athletes and Entertainers Tax.

The Missouri Arts Council is a division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and provides vital funding each year to nonprofit organizations through grants that encourage and stimulate the growth, development, and appreciation of the arts in Missouri. The Missouri Arts Council provides funding to make possible quality arts programming to both large and small communities.

Please continue to communicate with legislators the value of the arts in your community. You may be asking yourself, what else can I do to help?

In order to keep up the momentum we have started at Citizens' Day at the Legislature, please continue the advocacy process:

· If you have not already thanked the Governor, please take a minute today to write a thank you note for his recommendation of an additional $6.8 million into the Cultural Trust Fund.

· Join Missouri Citizens for the Arts to help keep the arts alive in our state!

· Provide important feedback to Missouri Citizens for the Arts regarding your meetings with legislators last week.

· Inform Missouri Citizens for the Arts of your advocacy contacts with Missouri legislators throughout the session.

· Send a personal letter to the legislators whom you visited thanking each one for his or her time.

· Personalize the attached sample letters and send a press release to your local media telling the story about your trip to Jefferson City for Citizens' Day at the Legislature and a letter to the editor of your local paper publicly thanking each legislator you visited for his/her time and support for the arts.

· Send your legislators a letter asking for their support of the Governor's recommendation. A sample can be found below.

· Invite legislators and their spouses to premiere performances, openings and exhibits, and ask them to speak about their support of public funding for Missouri's arts organizations at a lunch or dinner or at local arts or board meetings. Invite them to write a message, article or letter for your organization's newsletter or publication.

· Add your legislators to your mailing list and keep it up-to-date. MCA has electronic and hard copies of legislative directories if you would like to request a copy.

Sample Letter to Legislators
February 15, 2008

The Honorable John Q. Public
House/Senate Post Office
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Representative/Senator Public:

Thank you for supporting public funding of the Missouri Arts Council, the Missouri Cultural Trust, and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.

The Missouri Arts Council allocated $7,000 to the Jasper Springs Chamber Association for Fiscal Year 2008. These funds are supporting our tour through Missouri. In addition to our regular season here in Jasper Springs, we planned six performances throughout the year with a special outdoor performance at the Violet Festival in April. The tour is attracting new audience members and to date ticket sales are up 10% over last year. It is shaping up to be a successful season.

Your support of public funding for the arts results in increased economic stability in Jasper Springs. The Jasper Springs Chamber Association employs over 75 people from the community during its season and will spend approximately $50,000 on wages and over $4,000 in local and state taxes this year.

Please support the and vote in favor of the Governor's recommendation for the arts.

The next Jasper Springs Chamber Association performance will be at 8 PM on March 2, 2008 at the Jasper Springs community center. We would be delighted to have you as our guest. Please call so we may set aside tickets for you.

Thank you again, Representative/Senator Public.

Sincerely,
Jane Doe
Arts Administrator

Sample Press Release
For Immediate Release

February 15, 2008

Contact: Jane Doe
Arts Administrator
Phone Number

JASPER SPRINGS CHAMBER ASSOCIATION ADVOCATES FOR THE ARTS

Jasper Springs Chamber Association Arts Administrator, Jane Doe, attended the Citizens' Day at the Legislature on February 13, sponsored by Missouri Citizens for the Arts (MCA).

MCA grew out of a grassroots movement of citizens who recognized the need for an advocacy group dedicated to public support of the preservation and growth of the state's arts industry. Over the past 28 years MCA's lobbyist, board, and staff have successfully encouraged legislative support of public funding for the Missouri Arts Council, the Missouri Cultural Trust, and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.

Doe joined hundreds of arts advocates for the annual event in which arts-minded constituents have personal meetings with their senators and representatives. "I had a meeting with Senator/Representative John Q. Public. I told him how imperative it is to support public funding of MAC and pointed out the economic benefits of the arts in Missouri," said Doe. "I appreciated his pledge of support and look forward to having him as a guest at a Jasper Springs Chamber Association concert."

Americans for the Arts' Arts & Economic Prosperity: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts Organizations and Their Audiences, reveals that America's nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year, including $24.4 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues.

The advocates are representatives of arts organizations from all regions of the state, as well as individuals and art educators who recognize the importance of quality arts experiences for all Missourians. Advocates met with members of the Missouri General Assembly to discuss Missouri Citizens for the Arts' advocacy position for the current session and to emphasize the beneficial effects, both tangible and intangible, that the arts industry has on the communities and individuals of Missouri.

The Citizens' Day activities included an exciting performance by the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition and advocates attended the presentation of the 2008 Missouri Arts Awards. To close the day, Missouri Citizens for the Arts sponsored a reception at the Capitol for Missouri legislators, award recipients and advocates.

Sample Letter to the Editor
February 13, 2008

Dear Editor,

On Wednesday, February 13, 2008 I joined hundreds of arts advocates from around the state at Citizens' Day at the Legislature, sponsored by Missouri Citizens for the Arts. MCA grew out of a grassroots movement of citizens who recognized the need for an advocacy group dedicated to public support of the preservation and growth of the state's arts industry. Over the past 28 years MCA's lobbyist, board, and staff have successfully encouraged legislative support of public funding for the Missouri Arts Council, the Missouri Cultural Trust, and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.

I had an exciting visit with Senator/Representative John Q. Public who received me warmly and was open to my request that he support the Governor's request for Missouri's FY2009 budget. I would like to thank Senator/Representative Public for meeting with me and considering the significance of the arts in our state.

The Missouri Arts Council (MAC), the state's arts grant-making agency, allocated $7,000 to the Jasper Springs Chamber Association for this year for FY2008. The MAC grant results in increased economic stability in Jasper Springs. The Jasper Springs Chamber Association employs over 75 people from the community during its season and will spend approximately $50,000 on wages and over $4,000 in local and state taxes this year. We couldn't do that much without our grant.

The arts are a revenue generator for Missouri and they improve the quality of life for all Missourians.

I urge every Missourian with an interest in their communities' arts programs to contact their legislators and ask for their support of public funding for the arts during this legislative session.

Sincerely,
Jane Doe, Arts Administrator
Jasper Springs Chamber Association

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Missouri Citizens for the Arts, thank you again for all of your important advocacy efforts! We need the grassroots support from the field to ensure that the Governor's recommendation of an increase of $6.8 million is approved by the General Assembly!

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Missouri Citizens for the Arts