Advocacy Alert from NH Citizens for the Arts


2 Arts Bills ALMOST Safe: Now on way to House Floor Vote

HB1274 and HB1285 are headed to the House Floor with Finance Committee recommendations that preserve arts funding! We ask you to encourage all House Members to vote YES on the Finance Commitee recommendations for HB1274 and HB1285.

1. HB1274: The Roll-call vote in the House Finance Committee was 20-4 to defeat Representative Vaillancourt's attempt to re-introduce his original language to the bill, which would have eliminated the Department of Cultural Resources and moved several of its divisions to other state departments. HB1274 is now concerned with funding for the McAuliffe/Shepard Discovery Center and it should pass the House.

This is a significant victory for the arts and economic development community! Thanks to all who contacted legislators, attended hearings, and in other ways participated in this advocacy success.

2. HB1285: The Roll-call vote in House Finance was 15-9 to send this bill to Interim Study. The bill would eliminate the State Art Fund, which adds ½ of 1 % to a state building's construction budget for artwork, through a process managed by the Division of Cultural Resources. If sent to Interim Study, the bill will not be brought up again until sometime next year.

Both bills will go to the House Floor for a final vote Wednesday, March 28th. We are hoping the House votes to support both recommendations from the Finance Committee. If so, only HB1274 in its present state will move on to the Senate.

Stay tuned for an update on when the bills are scheduled to be heard.

Action steps:
Please take the time to thank your representative if he/she is on the Finance Committee and voted in our favor! Also, please contact your representative(s), even if they are not on the Finance Committee, to recommend that they vote YES to accept the Finance Committee's recommendations on both bills next week.

Visit NH Citizens for the Arts' website for additional details, contact information, and the latest arts advocacy news

Click here to download Marek Bennett's 2-page printable advocacy poster.

What Does the Constitution Say?
Artist-educator Marek Bennett's response to the potential funding cuts is to remind us what is written in the state constitution. Permission is granted to distribute these comics for educational and advocacy purposes, as long as you maintain the copyright notice and credit Marek Bennett, with a link to www.marekbennett.com from any online use.

The Arts Alliance works with NH Citizens for the Arts to keep you informed about arts advocacy issues at the local, state and national level. If you would like to receive statewide arts advocacy alerts, please email NH Citizens for the Arts at info@nhcfa.org and ask to be put on their e-list; the Arts Alliance also has an advocacy email list, with a particular concentration on arts in education and North Country issues. Email us at info@aannh.org if you would like to receive our advocacy emails as well - or if you have advocacy news or questions.