|
Josh Groban (right), Linda Rondstadt, Wynton Marsalis, and representatives of arts organizations across the country (including AACT) were part of this year's Arts Advocacy Day in
Washington, DC.
|
 |
|
AACT & Other Arts Organizations Descend on Washington, DC
By Joanne Berry
Hundreds of arts advocates from all over the country, representing a wide variety of arts organizations, gathered in Washington, DC, on March 30-31 for national Arts Advocacy
Day.
Coordinated annually by Americans for the Arts, AACT is one of the national co-sponsors.
NEA Support
Of course, a major concern is funding for the arts through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). There was an increase of $10 million for FY 2009, bringing it up to $155 million. Congress is being asked to support a budget of $200 million for the NEA for FY 2010. Grants from NEA funds include funds that are re-granted through state arts agencies, reaching arts programs, including community theatre, throughout the country. Leading artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Josh Groban, and Linda Ronstadt testified before the Interior Appropriations Committee on March 31 urging the adoption of a budget of $200 million for the NEA. The IRA Rollover provision of the Pension Protection Act is important to AACT member groups because it contains a provision which allows individuals of age 70.5 and older to make tax-free gifts directly from their IRAs to charities. The Act was to expire at the end of 2007, but Congress extended it until December 31, 2009. AACT and Americans for the Arts urge Congress to make the IRA Rollover provision permanent, remove the $100,000 cap, and reduce the qualifying age to 59.5. Our theatre groups can't exist just on ticket sales. Charitable giving is important in developing and maintaining our programs and this rollover provision is a boon to our fundraising efforts.
Immigration
With another AACT International Festival coming up, we continue to urge Congress to enact legislation that will require the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to reduce the processing time for visas filed on behalf of nonprofit arts organizations. Delays by USCIS cause long waits and create uncertainty in planning for international guests. The $1,000 per person Premium Processing Service fee to speed up the process is not affordable for most nonprofit groups, certainly not community theatres.
Wireless Issues
A new issue of concern to AACT and Americans for the Arts centers on public broadcasting and "white spaces." For over 35 years, wireless equipment used by performing artists has used radio frequencies between the television broadcast channels, the "white spaces." With the transition to digital TV, television broadcasts will use less space. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering either auctioning off the white spaces or opening these spaces to millions of unlicensed electronic devices such as cordless phones, PDAs and wireless laptops. This raises the concern that increased radio interference to wireless microphones and audio systems, such as two-way radios used backstage, might affect the ability of these systems to provide quality performances. If we are to be able to have first-class sound environments in our theatres, we need to educate our members of Congress about our concerns and to encourage the FCC to:
-
conduct adequate testing of new devices to preserve the ability of wireless microphones used in performing arts venues to operate without interference;
-
recognize the legitimate use of wireless microphones used in performing arts; and
-
allow performing arts venues to be eligible for inclusion in a Geo-Location Database." (Congressional Arts Handbook).
Next Steps
Put on your advocacy hat and contact your members of Congress. Educate them about the importance of these issues to the arts groups in your community and encourage them to support these measures.
Joanne Berry is chair of AACT's Advocacy Committee and also very active in advocacy efforts in her home state of Michigan.
|
