|
|
Re: Hot Topics in Politics Related to the Arts
Posted:
Feb 5, 2004 5:05 PM
|
|
From MCA's Arts Alert. To sign up for the Arts Alert visit http://www.mtn.org/mca/
National Arts Funding Update: Increase to NEA to be proposed.
From our friends at Americans for the Arts...
There have a few developments of note concerning the arts in the last few weeks:
First, on January 22, the U.S. Congress finally approved the FY 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Programs of interest to the arts include
* the Department of Education's arts education program: $35.1 million
* the Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Centers: $1 billion
* the Office of Museum Services within IMLS: $31.4 million
* the State Department, which receives funds to pay U.S. dues in full to UNESCO and is encouraged to beef up cultural and artistic exchange within current overall funding levels.
Unfortunately, the bill also contains a very small cut (or "rescission") to *all* 2004 domestic spending. In other words, it rescinds a small amount -- .59 percent -- of already-approved funding for NEA and NEH. While this is a disappointment, at least we cannot complain that the arts are being singled out for special treatment. With these cuts, the final 2004 numbers are:
NEA $121.0
NEH 135.3 (Dollars in millions)
With respect to tax legislation, major momentum is building for a tightening of rules involving donations of property -- especially vehicles, land, and intellectual property -- but nothing of major importance to art or arts institutions has yet been proposed. We continue to monitor this situation closely.
Finally, you'll recall that NEA Chair Dana Gioia indicated that there will be a substantial proposed increase for his agency for FY 2005. *We understand that there will be an announcement from the NEA and White House today.* Also, the White House has already announced that there will be a proposed increase of 14 percent for the Institute of Museum and Library Services for FY 2005. We will give you detailed information on these budget proposals as soon as it is available.
|
|
