ADVOCACY

FINAL STATE BUDGET
The State Budget approved by the Legislature late on Aug 30th, reduced the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism budget from $28.8 million to slightly over $18 million for both FY 10 & FY 11. This represents approximately a 38% reduction in funding. The biggest reductions were to Statewide Marketing, which received only $1 and funding for Tourism districts which were reduced to $350K from $850K. Both CCT grant accounts (Basic Cultural Resources and Culture, Tourism and Arts), from which operating support, arts projects, and arts education grants are made, were reduced. This budget became law without Gov. Rell’s signature.


JUNE 25, 2009 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RELEASES NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL

Legislative leaders Sen. Donald Williams and Rep. Chris Donovan unveiled their proposed biennial budget with the following recommendations for the arts and tourism:

Recommends $2,000.000 for Culture, Tourism and Arts Grants (reduced from $3,800,000 in FY09)

Recommends $1,500,000 in funding for Basic Cultural Resources Grants (reduced from 2,280,000 in FY09)

Funds Tourism Districts at $1,800,000 (reduced from $4,500,000 in FY09)

Eliminates funding for statewide marketing (FY09 funding was $4,085 million)


MAY 28, 2009 GOVERNOR’S LATEST BUDGET PROPOSES DEVASTATING CUTS TO CULTURE AND TOURISM

Governor Rell proposed additional cuts of $667million in FY10 and $787million in FY11 including significant reductions to the Commission on Culture & Tourism budget (consolidated into the Department of Economic and Community Development) budget as highlighted below.

Suspends Funding for Statewide Marketing
Suspend Statewide Marketing funding. Funds will not be available to promote Connecticut as a tourist destination and advertising and publications will be suspended.

Suspends Basic Cultural Resource Grant Funding
Basic Cultural Resource Grant funding will be suspended. This funding is typically provided to arts organizations for operating support.

Suspends Funding to Line-Item Grantees
Funding is provided as a direct subsidy to arts, cultural and non-profit organizations for general operating support, marketing, programming and maintenance expenses. Funding to these organizations will be suspended.

Suspend Funding for Tourism Districts
Suspend Tourism District funding. There are five Tourism Districts that market their respective regions and partner with CCT to market the State.

Reduces Operating Hours of State Museums
This is the cost of summer workers budgeted for FY'10. Museums could limit the amount of days open and existing staff would be utilized.



STATE FUNDING UPDATE

Governor Rell presented her proposed two-year budget on February 4, 2009. 

Commission on Culture and Tourism

The governor's proposed budget recommends consolidating the CCT into the Department  of Economic and Community Development (DECD), with the reduction of 14 staff positions.

The Basic Cultural Resources Grant fund is recommended to be funded at 9,284 million, which would  increase the grants budget  for FY09-10, while cutting funding for  arts and cultural organizations who receive line items in year one and eliminating line items in the second year of the budget.  The International Festival of Arts and Ideas, Shubert Theater, Amistad Vessel and Arts Council receive line item funding and would be seriously impacted.

Additionally, the Governor’s proposed budget would severely cut funding for the five Tourism Districts in year two of the budget from 5 million to 2.1 million next year and just $280,000 in FY11.

In response, The Connecticut Arts Alliance, a statewide arts advocacy organization issued the following platform:

1) Arts and culture should receive the highest possible funding in the biennial budget.

2) Continued support for tourism districts and marketing dollars are essential to marketing the arts
    and culture.

3) It is important for the arts and tourism to retain a high profile and autonomy in state
    government.

Additionally, there is grave concern that elimination of line item funding over a two-year period would destabilize some of Connecticut’s major cultural institutions.

Talking Points for Arts Advocacy

Connecticut Legislators Representing Greater New Haven


APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE BUDGET RELEASED APRIL 2, 2009

The Appropriations Committee does not recommend the merger of the Commission with the Dept. of Economic & Community Development. The Commission would retain their current staff minus the current 6 vacant positions.

Estimated Expenditure for CCT in FY 09 in General Fund dollars is $28.8 million
The Appropriations Committee recommends a budget for FY10 & FY11 of $23,023,414


Basic Cultural Resources Grant (organizational and project support for arts)

Culture, Tourism & Arts Grant (arts operating support, arts education, special initiatives, marketing grants)

Line item grants to arts and cultural organizations (including the International Festival, Shubert Theater and Arts Council) were not eliminated by Appropriations. Collectively, they are reduced approximately 10%. The Governor had proposed reducing line items by 50% in FY10 and eliminating all line items in FY11.

The Tourism Districts which the Governor eliminated in her budget proposal, are funded at $750,000 each in the Appropriations budget.

Statewide marketing is reduced from 4,085 million in FY09 to $2,750 million.


CONNECTICUT ARTS ALLIANCE SAYS IT’S OUTRAGEOUS TO SEVERELY REDUCE OR SUSPEND FUNDING FOR THE ARTS

INADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE ARTS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE’S ECONOMY

NEW HAVEN, CT – The Connecticut Arts Alliance (CAA) Board members held an emergency meeting on Tuesday in response to the current budget crises at the State’s capital and the potential impact on the Arts as a political sacrificial lamb. CAA is comprised of arts leaders across the state, many of which represent regional based organizations giving voice to hundreds of arts groups in their local communities. The group is particularly concerned that art, history, and film are being thrown in a cross fire between the Governor and legislative leaders during one of the most difficult economic tight-spots in recent history.

CAA recognizes the enormous challenge with finding solutions to this crisis. However, State government itself recognizes the enormous contribution the creative economy has made; $14 Billion in Connecticut economic activity from culture & tourism activities; 170,000 Jobs/10% of the Connecticut Labor Force come from culture and tourism. $88 million was collected by the State from hotel room taxes alone last year. This equals the combined budgets of the Dept. of Veteran Affairs, Consumer Protection and DEP or Housing/Homeless Services and Pharmaceutical assistance to the Elderly annually. By a unanimous decision, CAA urges state government to not only protect the arts, but support it with adequate funding.

The Governor submitted a plan to the legislature and the plan proposed all funding for the arts, history, and film be severely reduced or suspended and regional tourism districts and statewide marketing are eliminated. The plan also calls for the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism to be merged into the Department Of Economic Development. The Basic Cultural Resource Grants, which are given to arts organizations for operating support, as well as the legislatively determined line-item grants, are suspended. Without matching dollars and a Commission, Connecticut will not be able to receive National Endowment for the Arts funds which supplement current programs including Local Arts Agency grant dollars and some CCT staff. Funding for membership dues to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies is also suspended. The film training program started to support the industry by hiring from CT is also suspended.

“The Commission on Culture and Tourism provides a large portion of unrestricted operating support in the Greater Hartford region. General operating support is crucial to keeping arts organizations afloat; these funds keep the lights on, staff paid, and essential to our making an economic impact in the region,” says, Kate Bolduc, Executive Director, Greater Hartford Arts Council.

It is now up to the legislature to respond to the governor’s plan and determine if arts, history, film and tourism are a valued part of Connecticut’s economy and to support it with adequate funding. The negotiations with top leadership will be ongoing and are likely to extend beyond the June 3rd deadline. The CAA Board has issued a Call to constituents urging them now to contact their legislative leaders and express their concern.

Art, history, and film have already proven to be a strong partner in Connecticut’s economy and will continue to do so with support from our State leaders. Sacrificing the creative economy is not in the best interest of Connecticut and a detriment to our communities. Cindy Clair, Executive Director, New Haven Arts Council points out, “the arts stimulate spending from restaurants and shopping to concessions and parking. They lure visitors to our cities, and create vibrant environments in which to live and work”

For every dollar our government leaders think to cut from the commission’s budget, the state will potentially LOSE $9.30 in government revenue. The arts generate over $3.8 billion in gross state product annually, including $2.6 billion in personal income. $9.4 billion of personal income in Connecticut is derived from culture and tourism. Each visitor spends an average of $152 per day. Connecticut ranks 4th highest, among the 50 states, in the number of artists represented in the workforce and it ranks 7th in number of artists per capita. Three of Connecticut’s cities; New Haven, Stamford, and Hartford metropolitan areas - ranked in the top ten communities nation-wide in the number of non-profit arts organizations, community celebrations and festivals and arts jobs, according to a national 2006 study. “Not-For-Profits cultural organizations play a central role in creating the vibrant communities that attract creative workers and are economic generators in their own right. Cutting funds that are proven to produce a return is shortsighted even in difficult economic times,” states Ryan Odinak, Executive Director, Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.

The Connecticut Arts Alliance (CAA) is an advocacy organization established to ensure that the arts are central to the life of Connecticut citizens. The alliance board is comprised of arts leaders from around the state. CAA Board Members include: Cindy Clair, President, Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Frank Tavera, Vice-President, Palace Theater, Waterbury, Frank Mack, Secretary, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Peter Kelly, Treasurer, Hartford, Joyce Ahrens, Norfolk, Doug Hyland, New Britain Museum of American Art, Carol Ross, New Haven, Aleta Staton, Young Audience of Connecticut, Hamden, Robbin Zella, Housatonic Museum of Art, Bridgeport, Kate Bolduc, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Bitsie Clark, New Haven, Ryan Odinak, Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, David Roth, Hartford, Lisa Scails, Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance, Danbury, Steve Sigel, Garde Art Center, New London, Mike Stotts, Hartford Stage, Amy Wynn, Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, Torrington

Technical support provided by Odonnell Company.