Mark May 28th on your calendar right now! Then read this email from top to bottom so you’ll be able to respond ASAP! There is a lot at stake here for us all. MONEY!
We've got a major challenge facing us on May 28th for Arts Advocacy Day in the Capitol! The Louisiana Partnership for Arts Advocacy has the entire rotunda of the State Capitol reserved which means that we'll really have to be organized and rally the troops to turn out in force if we're to make an impact on our Legislators. This will be the first time we have had such a significant presence in Baton Rouge in quite a while because we have the most at stake to lose since 1994. Because we have a new administration and so many new legislators in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, we must make this a success! Success means a couple of things: (1) awareness of the impact arts and culture has on Louisiana's economy, (2) increased dollars for the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism means increased investments locally through the Louisiana Division of the Arts Stabilization and Capacity Grants to the major arts organizations and the Decentralized Arts Funding Program Grants to organizations throughout the region, (3) quality of life in legislative districts that benefits directly from financial support through arts and culture. That's a tall order and one we have the opportunity to make a reality. But we must have all hands on deck in a big way! Every arts and cultural organization in the greater New Orleans area must be represented if we're to be successful.
We will convene at the Capitol Welcome Center Baton Rouge at 702 River Road at 10 a.m. for a Louisiana Partnership for the Arts meeting, get instruction on what we should be talking to our legislators about, and walk over to the Capitol around 11:45 p.m. With so much at stake and such an opportunity, we need the leaders of the arts and cultural organizations with the most at stake (grant dollars) from each region to be at the Capitol to meet with their Legislators from noon until adjournment. You will be meeting and greeting local Representatives and Senators. Remember to bring materials you want to hand out that day – brochures, pens, pencils, calendars – things with a “useful” purpose to fit within the new ethics guidelines. (Parking may be available along River Road along the river.)
Information on statistics for your regions as it affects funding levels through statewide grants and through the Decentralized grants will be available at the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts meeting. The Louisiana Partnership for the Arts’ lobbyists will be there to help us with the contacts with legislators. But please remember that YOU, the constituents (i.e. voters!), are who legislators listen to because once they are elected their chief concern is to get re-elected.
As soon as you know who will be traveling to Baton Rouge, please let me know by carbon copying me on the email you send to patty@tatmangroup.com letting her know of your attendance. Please send Patty names of all the people attending in your group, as she will be making nametags for this event.
Thanks so much in advance. I know it is a lot to ask you to take a full day out of your life for advocacy, but unless we have the full support of our region's arts and cultural community, the gains that we've made over the years could decrease significantly. When you look at the impact of state funding on the arts, one day devoted to insuring your organization's funding really isn't such a big thing!
We've got a major challenge facing us on May 28th for Arts Advocacy Day in the Capitol! The Louisiana Partnership for Arts Advocacy has the entire rotunda of the State Capitol reserved which means that we'll really have to be organized and rally the troops to turn out in force if we're to make an impact on our Legislators. This will be the first time we have had such a significant presence in Baton Rouge in quite a while because we have the most at stake to lose since 1994. Because we have a new administration and so many new legislators in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, we must make this a success! Success means a couple of things: (1) awareness of the impact arts and culture has on Louisiana's economy, (2) increased dollars for the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism means increased investments locally through the Louisiana Division of the Arts Stabilization and Capacity Grants to the major arts organizations and the Decentralized Arts Funding Program Grants to organizations throughout the region, (3) quality of life in legislative districts that benefits directly from financial support through arts and culture. That's a tall order and one we have the opportunity to make a reality. But we must have all hands on deck in a big way! Every arts and cultural organization in the greater New Orleans area must be represented if we're to be successful.
We will convene at the Capitol Welcome Center Baton Rouge at 702 River Road at 10 a.m. for a Louisiana Partnership for the Arts meeting, get instruction on what we should be talking to our legislators about, and walk over to the Capitol around 11:45 p.m. With so much at stake and such an opportunity, we need the leaders of the arts and cultural organizations with the most at stake (grant dollars) from each region to be at the Capitol to meet with their Legislators from noon until adjournment. You will be meeting and greeting local Representatives and Senators. Remember to bring materials you want to hand out that day – brochures, pens, pencils, calendars – things with a “useful” purpose to fit within the new ethics guidelines. (Parking may be available along River Road along the river.)
Information on statistics for your regions as it affects funding levels through statewide grants and through the Decentralized grants will be available at the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts meeting. The Louisiana Partnership for the Arts’ lobbyists will be there to help us with the contacts with legislators. But please remember that YOU, the constituents (i.e. voters!), are who legislators listen to because once they are elected their chief concern is to get re-elected.
As soon as you know who will be traveling to Baton Rouge, please let me know by carbon copying me on the email you send to patty@tatmangroup.com letting her know of your attendance. Please send Patty names of all the people attending in your group, as she will be making nametags for this event.
Thanks so much in advance. I know it is a lot to ask you to take a full day out of your life for advocacy, but unless we have the full support of our region's arts and cultural community, the gains that we've made over the years could decrease significantly. When you look at the impact of state funding on the arts, one day devoted to insuring your organization's funding really isn't such a big thing!
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