Okay, wall of text warning: this is going to be a really long post. As you hopefully know, the county commission is meeing on September 17th to finalize the FY 2009-2010 budget. They proposed cutting a massive chunk out of the arts funding. Anyone in the arts knows that this is not only needed for the cultural health of our city, but is also an economic driver. Arts and Culture bring people to the city and get people out and involved in the economy.
Over the past day or so, we have received numerous emails from various organizations talking about this issue. As part of our service to the community, we post as many of these as we can, to expand their reach. However, instead of posting each one individually, I am just going to post them all at once in this post.
Most importantly, contact your commissioner! We have a convenient list HERE, with a link to a site that helps you figure out who your commissioner is.
And remember the commission meeting:
Thursday, September 17, 2009
County Commission hearing to finalize FY2009-2010 budget
5:01p.m.
County Commission Chamber (111 NW 1st Street, 2nd Floor)
Please note, these are presented in no particular order, just as I came to them in my email.
Thank you very much for all your support.
James Echols
co-founder
Life Is Art, Inc.
Now, on to the letters:
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MIAMI SCIENCE MUSEUM
Dear MiaSci Young Patron –
The testimony, at the first County Budget hearing, from representatives of more than 20 cultural organizations, ranging from major cultural institutions to small neighborhood groups and artists, reflected the fortitude, passion and vision that have come to define our cultural industry.
During the subsequent discussion among County Commissioners, several Commissioners expressed support for program restorations in various areas of the budget, including our Department’s budget. Ultimately, a majority of the County Commission voted to set the operating millage at a flat rate; overall, this will result in approximately $17 million less in revenue than what was proposed by Mayor Alvarez.
Mayor Alvarez and the County Manager commented that it would be very difficult to achieve the various budget restorations discussed given that the County Commission voted on a millage rate that is even lower than that recommended by the Mayor. The Mayor and County Manager also committed to working cooperatively with the Commission to find solutions wherever possible.
So from now until September 17th, it is extremely important that we help sway the final budgetary decision. We ask that you CALL your commissioners! If you can’t get them on the phone, ask to speak to their chief of staff or leave a voice message – just make sure to mention that you are calling on behalf of the Miami Science Museum. Mentioning our Museum is of utmost importance!
If you’re still not sure who your commissioner is or what district you belong to, follow this link http://gisims2.miamidade.gov/CServices/CSMap.asp
Also, remember that you are welcome to attend the final meeting where the budget will be finalized. Remember to wear your MiaSci buttons! Buttons will also be available in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clarke building prior to the meeting (where the County Commission Chamber is situated).
Thursday, September 17, 2009
County Commission hearing to finalize FY2009-2010 budget
5:01p.m.
County Commission Chamber (111 NW 1st Street, 2nd Floor)
For additional information on the issue, please visit www.miamisci.org/www/call-to-action.html, reply to this e-mail or call 305-646-4209.
Thanks in advance for your help and support.
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HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA
Dear Friends:
Our 13 elected members of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners will hold a second and final public Budget Hearing on Thursday, September 17th. This means the next four days are crucial in the restoration of funds for cultural organizations, including the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.
There is still time to demonstrate the importance of local institutions and how critical they are in the recovery of our tourism-based economy. Please continue to call, write or send emails to the 13 Commissioners, urging them:
1. To adopt an investment budget that moves our local community toward recovery by supporting the retention of jobs and services that are a vital part of our local economy.
2. To support culture, which has positive economic impact and is essential to the quality of life for local citizens and visitors in our community.
3. To support the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and the other museums in Miami-Dade County.
Please help us communicate this message to all 13 Commissioners. We have attached a sample letter that you could mail or email. Copies of the letter are also available at the museum’s kiosk.
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THE WOLFSONIAN-FIU
CALL TO ACTION FROM THE WOLFSONIAN–FIU
Dear Members and Friends,
The second and final Miami-Dade County public Budget Hearing is scheduled for this Thursday, September 17th and your personal messages to the County Commission about the value of support to cultural organizations is critical. Presently, if no positive action is taken, there will be “zero” dollars in the County budget for social service and cultural organizations.
We all recognize the arduous task before the County Commission; however, we have all worked so hard over the past two decades to build a vibrant cultural community that reflects the creativity, innovation, and generosity of our community. The arts have demonstrated their impact on quality of life, education, the economy, and job market, not to mention that almost all of the good news that comes out of Miami-Dade County is related to cultural organizations and arts events.
The severe reduction of County support of the arts will impact every cultural institution and the community it serves. It will result in the reduction of staff and seriously curtail most public, educational programs—exacerbating an already dire economic situation. Furthermore, the economic multiplier of this loss of funding is immeasurable, affecting numerous local businesses, service providers, and countless individuals. No one would argue that Art Basel and Design Miami, among other major conferences and events, have chosen to come to Miami, in part, because of its dynamic cultural scene.
If you have a strong opinion about the County budget, we urge you to attend the upcoming budget hearing and state your concerns.
Alternatively, if you are unable to attend the meeting, you may write members of the Miami-Dade County Commission to express your opinions or concerns. Visit http://artsactionalliance.wordpress.com/elected-officials/ for a list of Miami-Dade County Commissioners. Your individual letters about your personal experiences are more valuable than a form letter.
Thank you,
The Wolfsonian–Florida International University
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MIAMI LIGHT PROJECT
Dear James,
Below is a letter that we received from Adolfo Henriques, the chair of the Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council, urging us to continue fighting and contacting our commissioners to ask them to support arts funding.
Please take a moment to read Adpolfo’s letter and once again contact your commissioner, asking them to pledge their support for arts in Miami-Dade County.
Thank you for your continued support of Miami Light Project and the arts,
the Miami Light Project staff
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Also received from FUNDARTE
We need your help again.
Dear Cultural and Community Leaders,
We need your help again. The second and final Miami-Dade County public Budget Hearing is scheduled for this Thursday, September 17th and we must redouble our efforts. What we do in the next four days is crucial for the restoration of “zeroed out” grants support to more than 400 cultural organizations from the Department of Cultural Affairs.
I am encouraged that a number of County Commissioners have heard our message and have responded with expressions of support for the arts. So, it is very important that we remain visible and that our central message to elected officials remains positive:
“Thank you for recognizing that the arts are critical for the economy and return enormous benefits to our community. We are counting on you to restore the County’s cultural arts budget.”
As Chair of the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council, I am urging you again to take each of these following important actions now to help save the County’s cultural arts budget:
WRITE Send e-mails, faxes and letters to every County Commissioner, the Mayor and the County Manager, personalizing the positive message stated above.
CALL Call every key County official and emphasize specifically the central message above (County contact list attached).
TESTIFY Attend and speak at the upcoming County Commission Budget Hearing where the County’s budget will be finalized for the coming year. The Budget Hearing is being held at 5:01 pm on Thursday, September 17 in the County Commission Chamber, 111 N.W. 1st Street, 2nd Floor. Crowds are expected so get there early and be prepared to wait to make your case; you will have two minutes to speak. It is critically important that we are present – in force – at this meeting and that we positively reinforce the County Commission’s support for restoring the arts budget.
At the 1st Budget Hearing, we had an incredibly diverse array of citizens address the County Commission – ranging from volunteers and artists to kids and parents whose lives have been changed by the arts. This is what counts: people from all walks of life who believe deeply that the arts are a priority.
I want to thank you for all that you have done so far. Your letters, calls, e-mails and appearance at the 1st County budget hearing have helped enormously to keep our chances alive. Your passionate and articulate stories about the importance of County funding support continue to be the most compelling testimony.
Please forward this message to as many people as possible.
Time is short and the stakes remain high. Please know that your voice can make the difference this week. Thank you for your help.
Adolfo Henriques
Chair
Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council
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BASS MUSEUM OF ART
Dear Friends,
Alternatives to the currently proposed 2009-2010 County budget are currently being determined by 13 members of the Board of County Commissioners, which will greatly impact the quality of life for local citizens and visitors in our community. Cultural organizations, including the Bass Museum of Art are in danger. We need your help to get the message out.
You can help today by urging them to support culture and protect the jobs, quality of life for local citizens and visitors in our community.
Please use the sample letter below and send e-mails to each of the 13 Commissioners and the Mayor:
Dear County Board Commissioners,I am writing to urge you to support the full restoration of funding for the Department of Cultural Affairs’ grants programs. I know that you have tough choices to make about next year’s budget but please know that the arts are part of the solution for re-energizing our economy and making our community great. Here are a few important facts:
– Every dollar of County arts support leverages $27 dollars of other funds.
– Arts organizations generate a billion dollars in local economic impact annually.
– 12 million people attend arts events every year.
– Other businesses depend on the arts. People who attend arts events spend more than a half a billion dollars, parking their cars, eating in local restaurants and shopping.
– Cultural activities provide more than 2 million experiences every year to the children of our county.
– Our community’s outstanding arts activities are giving Miami-Dade a worldwide competitive edge in attracting tourism and business.
Those are the economic facts. I also want to tell you about how important County support for the arts is to the community. Cultural organizations are critical to the lives of our community’s families and kids; it benefits the community in their intellectual, personal, and social development. The arts are essential to an understanding of personal, local, national and global cultures, past and present. The importance of the arts in society is undeniable, it communicates across all cultures, tells the stories of the past and present, and inspire minds, both young and old, to do beautiful things. It is through the County support for the arts that art organizations receive funds to create, organize and offer different cultural events; exhibitions, performances, and educational programs, all to serve the community and tourism. Without County support, the stability and survival of Miami-Dade’s non-profit cultural industry is seriously jeopardized. Many of these groups will not be able to sustain their operations without the County’s investment.
What you do now will have an effect on the entire course of our economy and our community. I am counting on your support for maintaining funding for the County’s investments in the arts.
Thank you for your help.
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FROST ART MUSEUM
Greetings!
As you may be aware, news of the Mayor’s proposed budget was announced and the vote has been postponed. The current proposal calls for the elimination of nearly all funding for the arts and cultural organizations across the board and county which are currently funded through the Department of Cultural Affairs. We are writing to invite you to support the full restoration of funding for the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ grants program.
The currently proposed county budget eliminates the $11.168 million of general fund support to the cultural grants program. These grants support over 400 non- profit cultural organizations. Without the support of Miami-Dade County, the non-profit cultural industry will be put at risk. Cutting these funds will have a devastating, ripple effect across the various cultural organizations and other funding sources that the County’s support helps to generate.
The arts generate over 1 billion dollars each year and employ 22,000 workers which translate to $648.7 million in household income to local residents. Your support will have an effect on the entire course of our economy and our community. Both Budget Hearings are being held at 5:01 pm on Thursday, September 3 and Thursday September 17 in the County Commission Chamber, 111 N.W. 1st Street, 2nd floor.
We are counting on your support. It is of the utmost importance to send e-mails, faxes, and letters to every Country Commissioner, the Mayor and the County Manager to let the know the arts are important to the community.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
The Frost Art Museum
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CCEMIAMI
Estimados amigos del Centro Cultural de Miami:
Necesitamos vuestra ayuda. La comunidad cultural de Miami está en una situación muy delicada y necesitamos hacer algo al respecto. Michael Spring, Director del Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, envió un boletÃn anunciando el corte de ayuda a las artes propuesto por el alcalde Carlos Ãlvarez. Por favor, llamad y enviad e-mails a nuestros comisionados para dejarles saber que las artes crean muchos puestos de trabajo, turismo y una imagen positiva de una ciudad que progresa. No podemos permitir que desaparezcan nuestras organizaciones culturales, y lo harán si se sigue adelante con estos cortes de presupuesto.
Os enviamos un ejemplo de carta para que la copiéis con vuestro nombre o si lo preferÃs, enviad la vuestra propia. Se incluye también una lista de los comisionados y un link para buscar el comisionado que corresponde a cada distrito. Enviad e-mails al comisionado que os corresponda y también a los otros 12. Este es un mensaje importante, debemos hacer que escuchen nuestra voz.
Gracias por vuestro apoyo a las artes
Saludos,
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