Action Alert #8
Missouri Governor Bob Holden is trying to zero General Revenue for the Missouri Arts Council

Dear Student Advocates,

According to Missouri Citizens for the Arts, a non-profit Arts Advocacy group:

In the process of cutting $1 billion from the state budget for FY2004, Governor Bob Holden recommended zero dollars from General Revenue for the Missouri Arts Council. His recommendation is to raid the Cultural Trust and use those funds for operating MAC in 2004.

Statutorily, the Missouri legislature has to approve any spending authority prior to any money being spent from the Missouri Cultural Trust Fund. This sets an extremely bad precedent. especially since the general assembly has not been fully funding the Trust Fund as required by state statute.

A line item of $953,000 was recommended for the amount of federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, but without a new general revenue appropriation, Missouri will not be eligible for those dollars either.

Now is a crucial moment to organize and mobilize. Act by sending a version of the sample letter below to Governor Holden, your state legislators and your local elected officials. The future of the arts in Missouri depend on it!

FIND EMAILS HERE:
Missouri Legislator lookup
Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri State Senate
Gov. Holden: mogov@mail.state.mo.us

SAMPLE LETTER/EMAIL

Dear Legislator:

As a resident and voter of this state, the arts in Missouri matter to me and my family and are one of things I treasure about living in Missouri.

I am saddened and outraged that Governor Holden has sent the residents of our state the message that the value of the arts equals zero. His recommendation is to raid the Cultural Trust and use those funds for operating MAC in 2004. This is truly unacceptable.

I urge you to keep funding for General Revenue for the Missouri Arts Council level for the coming year so that we may continue to enjoy all the cultural performances and programs that Missouri arts organizations provide.

The arts in Missouri are important to our children and the economic development of our communities. Please respect the important and meaningful work being done by Missouri artists and arts organizations. Missouri is better than this-we must do better.

If you care about the arts, arts education and the quality of life in Missouri for every resident, we urge you to keep funding for the arts level at for FY04. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your address

We hope that you will become involved and forward this on to other voters who may wish to act.