April 17, 2012

Dear Member of Congress: Americans for the Arts represents a network of more than 200,000 organizational and individual members and stakeholders across the country. Together, all of us are all dedicated to serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. As the national host of Arts Advocacy Day, Americans for the Arts is joined by other national arts, humanities, and civic organizations, representing thousands of cultural organizations in every state, city, and town to urge the 112th Congress to support legislation promoting the arts and the jobs they create and sustain in your district and state. Full details of our congressional requests are outlined under the Issue Briefs tab in this Congressional Arts Handbook. Below are a few of our priority issues: Federal Cultural Agencies: We ask you to support a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This figure would enable the NEA to maintain its core programs, including an increase for the community development initiative, Our Town. We also ask Congress to support an appropriation of at least $35 million for the Office of Museum Services within the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Arts Education: We ask you to support an appropriation of $30 million to fund the Arts in Education programs of the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Innovation and Improvement. We call on the education committees to conduct dedicated hearings on how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation. Tax Legislation: We urge you to cosponsor legislation allowing artists to take a fair-market value deduction for contributions of their own work to museum, libraries, and cultural institutions. We also ask you preserve incentives for charitable giving. including tax deductibility and the IRA Rolloverallowing tax-free distributions from individual retirement accounts to increase charitable giving. Finally we call on you to reject any attempts to create a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits, potentially reducing incentives for charitable gifts to arts and culture organizations compared to other partners with the nonprofit community. We thank you for supporting all of the issues included in this Congressional Arts Handbook on behalf of the creative and historic work of Americas cultural organizations. Sincerely,

Robert L. Lynch President and CEO

Narric Rome Senior Director of Federal Affairs & Arts Education

April 17, 2012

On behalf of the public, educational and governmental cable channels and community media centers in the United States, the Alliance for Community Media is honored to be a national co-sponsor of the 2012 Americans for the Arts Advocacy Day. We respectfully request that Congress support and pass the Community Access Preservation Act (CAP Act), H.R. 1746, to safeguard community media today and for future generations. The CAP Act responds to several immediate threats to public, educational and governmental cable channels around the country. It amends the Communications Act so that public, educational and governmental access funding may be used to support basic operational costs, including employee salaries; It reaffirms the principles of the Communications Act that cable providers should not discriminate, and carry local community media channels in the same manner as local broadcast channels; It promotes the preservation of public, educational and governmental channels and ongoing funding from cable providers for digital literacy training, youth media initiatives and local programming - including arts programming. We also urge Congress to consider the ways in which community media centers are local anchor institutions and economic engines. On average, a local community media center produces more than 1,100 hours of original local programming each year, with some centers producing upwards of 15,000 hours per year. In many markets, community media centers are the only source of local news and arts and cultural programming. The CAP Act will assist in preserving these critical assets for local communities.

Kindest regards,

Sylvia Strobel, Esq. Executive Director

ALLIANCE OF ARTISTS COMMUNITIES

255 South Main Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 tel 401.351.4320 fax 401.351.4507 www.artistcommunities.org info@artistcommunities.org
Board of Trustees Wayne Lawson Chair Ohio Arts Council (emeritus) The Ohio State University Jason Kalajainen Vice-Chair Ox-Bow Stephanie L. Olmsted Secretary Paul Hogan Treasurer Ruth Davis Ruth Davis Associates Sara Jane DeHoff David Fraher Arts Midwest Linda Golding The Reservoir Esther Grimm 3Arts Amanda Kik Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design David Macy The MacDowell Colony Linda Marston-Reid Dutchess County Arts Council Hunter OHanian Massachusetts College of Art & Design Bruce Rodgers Hermitage Artist Retreat Tom Swanston Artist Lava Thomas Artist San San Wong San Francisco Arts Commission Caitlin Strokosch Executive Director

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, The Alliance of Artists Communities is pleased to be a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. As the professional association for artists residency programs across the United States, the Alliance operates on the premise that support for the cultivation of new art and ideas is essential to human progress. Artists residency programs serve as research-and-development labs for the arts, providing artistsincluding visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, filmmakers, and othersa critical opportunity to address the most challenging issues we face today. On behalf of our member organizations, providing more than $40 million in services to over 15,000 artists each year, we urge you to support increased funding for our nations cultural agencies: the National Endowment for the Arts; the National Endowment for the Humanities; and the Office of Museum Services. The core funding programs of these cultural agencies are critical to nurturing the growth and artistic excellence of thousands of organizations and artists in every corner of the country. While the federal investment in the arts is modest, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generates nearly $30 billion in government revenue annually. The arts sector stretches every public dollar to leverage additional funding, invest in jobs, and support our communities. Additionally, many artists residency programs include cultural exchange as a core part of their missions. Exchange among artists from different cultures and backgrounds, as well as connection of foreign guest artists to other community members, is critical to the vitality of American culture. The need for international connections on a people-to-people basis toward greater diplomacy is more important now than ever. For these reasons we strongly ask that you support improving the visa process for foreign guest artists at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Through these measures we as a nation will maintain our position as a global cultural leader and build a lasting legacy for the next generation. Thank you for your service and for your consideration. Sincerely, Caitlin Strokosch Executive Director

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, The American Alliance for Theatre & Education is proud to be a National Co-sponsor of National Arts Advocacy Day. On behalf of our membershiptheatre artists, scholars and educatorsAATE would like to extend our gratitude to the members of Congress who support theatre and education as well as the entire arts community in the United States. The benefits of early and solid education in the arts, particularly theatre arts, in producing a well-rounded, cultural society are clear but emphasis on creativity, critical thinking and collaborative skills especially apply to all fields in the 21st century workforce. All across America, the members of AATE work to bring theatre into the lives of young people in order to enhance creativity, teamwork, empathy, self-discipline and problem-solving skills. We also teach young people about the joy that theatre can bring into their lives and the deep satisfaction that comes from authentic self-expression and interpersonal communication. We urge members of Congress and the administration to support theatre and all the arts for and with young people through the following actions: Support a budget for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at $155.5 million in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations bill. Support a funding level of $30 million for the Arts in Education programs within the U.S. Department of Education in the FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. Encourage the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects, and strengthen equitable access to arts learning. Support public/private partnerships between theatres and schools Provide funding for the Department of Educations efforts in arts education research with an emphasis on the art of theatre Support dissemination of information pertaining to the effects of theatre education on student development Improve national data collection and research in theatre education

We encourage Congress to join us in bringing the theatre arts to all Americans by supporting these initiatives; our organization is standing at the ready to assist anyone who would need our resources and expertise. Sincerely,

Lynne Kingsley Executive Director

Daniel A. Kelin II President, AATE Board of Directors

AATE 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814 www.aate.com

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012, and proud to be so. For several years AACT has participated in this most basic right of civil discourse, bringing to you, our elected officials, our concerns and desires. AACT represents the interests of an estimated 7,000 plus community theatres throughout the United States and a region made up entirely of U.S. Military overseas. AACT provides networking, resources and support for theatres found in almost every corner of the country, from small towns to metropolitan areas. This constituency has a combined budget of over $1 billion and includes some 1.5 million volunteers creating over 46,000 productions per year to entertain an audience of 86 million people. Though community theatres are known for incorporating numerous volunteers in their activities, they also provide employment for a growing number of theatre professionals. They drive economic activity through tourism initiatives and local purchases. They serve as a focal point for the exchange of ideas and the fostering of empathy in an increasingly crowded and discordant society. Community theatres entertain, educate and inspire their local citizenry. AACT is there to help them improve the quality of their productions through the national AACTFest program, facilitate the securing of rights through partnerships with publishing companies, and save money through several discount programs. And AACT is there to provide a voice for them on a national level. Collectively, we urge you to recognize the undeniable importance of the creative arts, and to make decisions based on the understanding that Arts matter. Study the data that shows the Creative Industries are an economic engine, that arts education is one of the saving graces for our young people, and that without the proper investment from our public officials, we will not attain the goals we all desire. Specifically, AACT urges you to support funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, improve the visa process for foreign guest artists, and make permanent the IRA Charitable Rollover provisions that will help our donors ensure our futures. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to our country. We stand ready to help you in the days and months ahead. Sincerely,

Linda M. Lee President

1300 Gendy Street -

For t Wor th, TX 76107

T: 817-732-3177 info@aact.org

Toll Free: 866-OUR-AACT (687-2228) www.aact.org

F: 817-732-3178

AMERICAN

ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: The American Association of Museums (AAM) is pleased to be a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. AAM is proud to represent the full range of our nation's museums including aquariums, arboretums, archaeological museums, art museums, botanical gardens, childrens museums, culturally specific museums, historic sites, history museums, maritime museums, military museums, natural history museums, nature centers, planetariums, presidential libraries, science and technology centers, zoological parks, and other specialty museums along with professional staff and volunteers who work for and with museums. We respectfully request that Congress: Fund the IMLS Office of Museum Services We support the Dear Colleague letters circulated by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Reps. Paul Tonko, Leonard Lance, and Louise Slaughter supporting at least $35 million for the IMLS Office of Museum Services. Invest in Museums as Essential Community Assets We urge Congress to consider the ways in which museums are educational and economic engines: spending over $2 billion on educational programming, employing 400,000 workers, pumping $20 billion into local economies, and spurring valuable tourism dollars. Museums are also offering special programming for veterans, persons with memory loss, children on the autism spectrum, and much more. Protect Charitable Giving Incentives We oppose any effort to restrict the deductibility of charitable gifts. Typically, museums rely upon charitable donations for more than one-third of their operating costs.

At a time when communities are stretched thin, museums are filling the gaps on many fronts. To learn more about museums, please visit www.speakupformuseums.org. Sincerely,

Ford W. Bell, DVM President

______________________________________________________
1575 EYE STREET NW , SUITE 400 WASHINGTON, DC 20005

202.289.1818 FAX 202.289.6578

2000 Century Plaza Suite 108 10632 Patuxent Parkway Columbia, MD 21044-3263 www.ADTA.org April 17, 2012 Dear Members of Congress: The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) is proud to be a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. The ADTA has approximately 1,200 members. Our professional members enrich the United States by providing opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and cultures to experience the healing benefits of movement and dance. Dance/Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration of the individual. Dance/Movement therapists use nonverbal communication for assessment and intervention with clients. They are employed in a variety of mental and physical health care settings. They provide individual and group therapy for clients with issues such as autism, PTSD, ADHD, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disabilities and Alzheimers disease. In addition to clinical work, they are active in publishing, research, supervision, professional development training and teaching. Dance/movement therapists have extensive training and are graduates from Masters level programs across the nation. Dance/movement therapy was recognized as a counseling specialty by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) in 2000. We urge Congress to: Request funding for creative arts in healthcare research within the federal agencies involved with the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force, including the National Institutes of Health, Administration on Aging, and the Department of Education Designate funding for demonstration projects utilizing cost-effectiveness dance/movement therapy interventions for military members and veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other conditions. Support and seek, through Dear Colleague Letters, clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapies interventions within existing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) We would be happy to serve as a resource to you on these issues and specifically on the use of dance/movement therapy as an important treatment option. Sincerely, Sherry Goodill, Ph.D., BC-DMT , NCC, LPC President Corinna Brown MA, MS, BC-DMT, LCAT Government Affairs Chair

American Music Therapy Association

8455 Colesville Rd., Ste. 1000 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Tel. (301) 589-3300 Fax (301) 589-5175 www.musictherapy.org

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) is proud to serve as a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Representing over 5,000 professionally trained music therapists, AMTA is committed to the mission of advancing public awareness of music therapy benefits and increasing access to quality music therapy services. With over 60 years of clinical history in the United States, board certified music therapists work across the lifespan serving client groups in healthcare and educational settings. Through the remarkable recovery of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords over the past year, we have witnessed the incredible benefit that medical rehabilitation offers those who have experienced injury, illness, and disability. Music therapy played a role in the Congresswomans recovery and is a cost-effective, efficient, professional therapy that can address multiple domains in one session, e.g., communication, motor, and cognitive skills. These health and economic benefits of music therapy interventions go beyond just the medical rehabilitation setting. Music therapy treatments produce positive outcomes in various health and education programs for an estimated one million Americans each year. Research demonstrates music therapy can reduce client anxiety associated with medical procedures, reduce medication costs, increase efficiency and effectiveness of staff interventions and procedures, and improve client quality of life. To improve access to these cost efficient services in healthcare and education settings, we urge your support of the following: Direct federal agencies involved in the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force to support research focused on how the arts affect the health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan. Designate funding through Department of Defense, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs for Demonstration Projects for veterans and active military to access cost-effective creative arts in healthcare treatment and programming. Support Dear Colleague Letter seeking clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapies interventions within existing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS).

Thank you for your support of all Arts programs in America, especially those programs and services which improve the quality of healthcare for persons with illnesses and disabilities. Sincerely,

Andrea Farbman, Ed.D. Executive Director

Judy Simpson, MT-BC Director of Government Relations

AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) gladly lends its support as a co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. On behalf of the 10,000 members we represent and the millions of children our members serve, we applaud our partner organizations that seek to reinforce the fact that a rich and broad curriculum in the arts is essential to a well rounded education. As the economy remains challenging and the impact is felt on many educational institutions, your support is more critical than ever before. Arts education has a proven impact on academic, social, and community success. The arts educate and empower people and also strengthen our communities. The economic impact of the arts is equally vital as the arts provide an infusion of income generated through performances and arts participation. Arts education must be funded at the same levels as other core subjects. Every child should have access to a comprehensive music program and no music program is comprehensive without an orchestra. However, even in the 21st century, only about 25 percent of our students have access to learn a stringed instrument. We encourage Congress to take the following steps: Continue to fund the National Endowment for the Arts at current or increased levels. Provide sufficient funding for music education to become a true core subject. Ensure that comprehensive music programs include access to a school orchestra. Take steps to ensure that when reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that required assessments and testing do not create the unintended consequences of less time and resources for music and art. Mandate that the Department of Education set aside funding for professional development for educators. Lend your voice to a movement that not only sustains but also strengthens access to the arts for future generations. We encourage you as our elected leaders to support the arts with continued funding. We stand ready to help preserve the legacy of orchestral music for future generations. Sincerely, Kirk D. Moss Donna Hale

President

Executive Director

ASTA 4155 Chain Bridge Road Fairfax, VA 22030 www.astaweb.com (703) 279-2113

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: The Association of Performing Arts Presenters is pleased to be a national co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day. As the national service organization for the field of arts presenting, APAP represents the nations leading performing arts centers and performance facilities, artist agencies and managers, self-representing artists, as well as national consulting practices and vendors in the field. The presenting and touring fields serve more than six million people each week and have a combined annual budget of more than $9 billion. Additionally, the performing arts are an economic catalyst in every community, generating $166.2 billion nationally in economic activity each year. The orchestra hall in your district, the auditorium at your local college and whatever new arts projects are taking place right now in your region are part of this significant economic activity. This spring, we ask you to support the performing arts in America by taking action in several key areas that enhance and strengthen our ability to improve the arts and cultural infrastructure and offerings in communities across the country, such as the following: Increase funding for the State Department Exchange Programs and encourage additional resources to the Professional Exchanges Grant Program and the Performing Arts Initiative; Support resolution, including artist input, between the FAA and airlines for a uniform carry-on instrument policy for musicians; Seek solutions that protect intellectual property online and mitigate the ability of websites to profit from infringement; Support the creation of an Artist Corps within the Corporation for National & Community Service, as called for in the Serve America Act; Support a budget of $155 million for the NEA in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations bill to widen citizen access to the arts and to advance American creativity and innovation; Support efforts to assure that the FCC retains the authority to promote access and innovation on the Internet for the benefit of creators and the nonprofit arts sector.

Thank you for your help on Capitol Hill and your year-round support for the performing arts, which are so crucial to building a strong economy and to the health and well-being of communities across America.

Mario Garcia Durham President and CEO

1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036 | Telephone 888.820.2787 | Fax 202.833.1543 | www.artspresenters.org

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artists Emergency Resources), a national artists service organization, is proud to be a national co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. The lack of a safety-net for professional craft artists when personal or natural disasters strike was the impetus in 1985 for a group of artists and show producers to create the Craft Emergency Relief Fund. From a modest, grassroots mutual aid organization, CERF+ has emerged as one of the leading voices for safeguarding artists livelihoods to ensure that they are as well protected as our nations other art treasures are. With 27 years of service and more than 7,000 supporters across the country, we are dedicated to a future in which professional artists of all ages and backgrounds are able to thrive in communities across the United States. As a sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day, CERF+ is pleased to join with many national arts, humanities and civic organizations in urging Congress to support legislation that promotes the arts and values artists contributions to our society. On behalf of our supporters and those we serve, we encourage to you strengthen federal support for the arts in the following ways: Support a budget of $155 million for the NEA in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations bill; Allow artists to claim a tax deduction for the fair market value of work they donate for charitable purposes; Support locally made and handmade products in our National Parks and tourist welcome centers; Extend unemployment benefits to self-employed workers, including artists; Maintain incentives for charitable giving, including tax deductibility and the IRA Rollover; and avoid creating a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits that discriminates against arts and culture by reducing tax deductibility of charitable gifts.

We thank you for valuing the creative work of Americas artists and cultural organizations and the contributions they make to our lives. Sincerely,

Cornelia Carey Executive Director

PO Box 838, Montpelier, VT 05601-0838 Ph: (802) 229-2306 Fax: (802) 223-6484 www.craftemergency.org

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: Chamber Music America (CMA), the national organization for the chamber music profession, is pleased to serve as a co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. CMA serves a vast membership of more than 6,000 musicians, ensembles, concert presenters, festivals, composers, training institutions, managers, music businesses, and enthusiasts who create, perform, and present numerous styles of small-ensemble music, from Western classical/contemporary to world music and jazz. Chamber Music America serves as the hub of this national, artist-centered community by offering direct financial support through our grant programs and by providing ongoing career-development services, professional resources and information. Chamber musicians belong, in large part, to the nations freelance workforce and, like other self-employed workers, face such concerns as lack of health insurance and sporadic earnings from seasonal or project-specific employment. Concert presenters, too, are challenged; like most other small businesses, they have few available lines of credit and face high health insurance costs for staff. On behalf of the national chamber music field, Chamber Music America respectfully urges Congress to: support a budget of $155 million for the NEA in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations bill. Foundations and corporations have dramatically reduced their funding for the arts over the past four years. Funding at the national level is essential to the vitality and longevity of the cultural sector. increase funding by $15 million for the Cultural Programs Division of the State Departments Office of Citizen Exchanges in the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Chamber groups would not only benefit from the increased residency, performance, and mentoring opportunities that this funding would provide, but would be outstanding ambassadors for American culture and cultural exchange. preserve incentives for charitable giving by protecting tax deductibility and reinstating the IRA Rollover. Lawmakers have proposed cutting back or eliminating the income tax deduction for gifts to 501(c)(3) organizations, a measure that will lead inevitably to decreased giving. Critical funding for arts non-profits is already threatened in the FY 2013 budget; we urge you to reject proposals to discriminate against arts and culture by reducing tax deductibility of gifts. seek solutions that protect intellectual property on the internet and impede malicious websites from profiting from infringement. Congress must employ arts professionals and work with them to arrive at policies that will protect artists works. Chamber Music America encourages you to support policies and legislation that will benefit the thousands of chamber music professionals whose work impacts the cultural landscape of America. Cordially,

Margaret M. Lioi Chief Executive Officer

305 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001-6008 (212) 242-2022 phone (212) 242-7955 fax www.chamber-music.org

April 17, 2012

Dear Member of Congress: As the national service organization for not-for-profit, professional dance and a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012, Dance/USA urges you to support federal policy that will strengthen the arts in America. Founded in 1982, Dance/USAs membership represents the breadth and diversity of this brilliant art form. Currently, we speak for more than 450 ballet, modern, ethnic, jazz, culturally specific, and tap companies, artist managers, dance service organizations, presenters, and the thousands of dancers, trustees, administrative staff, educators, volunteers and audiences committed to these member institutions. On behalf of Dance/USAs membership and those who serve the field, we encourage you to strengthen federal support for the arts in the following ways: Support artistic excellence and access to the arts by supporting a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts; Preserve charitable giving incentives, such as the charitable deduction and the IRA Charitable Rollover, without which public access to the arts would be severely diminished; and reject attempts to create a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits that discriminates against arts and culture by reducing tax deductibility of charitable gifts; Improve student achievement by allocating $30 million for the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education; When reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), include the following provisions: retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning, reauthorize the Arts in Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education, and conduct dedicated hearings on how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation. Encourage international cultural exchange by directing a minimum of $15 million for the Cultural Programs Division of the State Departments Office of Citizen Exchanges; Enact legislation that will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reduce the total processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations to a maximum of 45 days. We encourage you to support funding and policies that continue to strengthen dance and the performing arts in communities across the nation.

Sincerely,

Amy Fitterer Executive Director

Brandon Gryde Director of Government Affairs

2343AuburnAvenue,Cincinnati,Ohio45219 Phone:513.421.3900Fax:513.421.7077 Website:schooltheatre.org

April 17, 2012

Dear Member of Congress: The Educational Theatre Association is proud to be a co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. EdTA, the professional organization for theatre education, works to ensure that theatre arts will be an essential part of every students education. We represent over 4,870 professional members, 75,000 current student members, and over 2,000,000 alumni student members in the United States. Today we advocate for the arts, and we ask members of Congress to consider the value of arts education to the well-rounded education of our children. In these challenging times, college and career readiness is not complete without a comprehensive arts education. Your support is needed for the arts in our schools and society, and for their role in developing the 4Cs of creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication, along with a broad range of life and career skills needed for our twenty-first century workforce. We ask you to support the following actions as described in the issue briefs that follow in this handbook: Appropriate $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. Appropriate $30 million for the Arts in Education programs in the FY 2013. Reauthorize the Arts in Education programs in the U.S Department of Education. Retain the Arts in Education programs as a distinct grant competition. Retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning in ESEA. Improve the U.S. Department of Educations national data collection and research regarding what students know and are able to do in all the arts, and the conditions under which arts teaching and learning is conducted. Require states to report annually on student access and participation in all core academic subjects. Improve student success in school, work, and life by strengthening arts education in provisions relating to extended learning, teaching effectiveness, school turnaround, charter schools, and student assessment. Conduct dedicated hearings on how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation. Set aside $17.5 million in any spectrum auction legislation to defray the cost to educational institutions and performing arts organizations of moving wireless microphone operations in the broadcast spectrum On behalf of the millions of theatre teachers, parents, students, and other supporters in our nation who believe that a portion of our tax dollars should be directed toward supporting our nation's cultural and educational initiatives, we encourage you to help establish a lasting legacy of the arts and humanities for generations to come. Sincerely,

Julie Woffington Executive Director

James Palmarini Director of Educational Policy

HomeoftheInternationalThespianSociety,Dramaticsmagazine,andTeachingTheatrejournal

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, Free Press is thrilled to be a national co-sponsor for Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Free Press is building a nationwide movement for media that serve the public interest. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, hard-hitting journalism, open and affordable Internet service, and universal access to communications. We believe all of these issues directly impact our nations cultural life. The Internet has enabled a new generation of artists to participate more fully in the creation of culture. It has broken down barriers to distribution and facilitated an explosion of content online from all corners of the artistic community. Independent musicians, filmmakers, photographers, authors and other artists can access an international audience and distribute their work without obtaining permission from industry gatekeepers. And community theaters and arts spaces can sell tickets and promote their events online. All of this is possible thanks to the Internets open architecture. But threats to Network Neutrality continue today. Congress should pay close attention to all policy matters that threaten the open Internet. The loss of Network Neutrality or the weakening of existing rules would cripple creative communities and innovation. Additionally, we believe public and community media are critical incubators for arts and culture. From the unique programs these outlets air to the partnerships they create in local communities with arts organizations, these institutions have long provided opportunities that commercial broadcasters have not. Congress should substantially increase funding for all forms of noncommercial media, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and its fund recipients. We also urge Congress to pass the Community Access Preservation Act (H.R. 1746) to protect public access, educational and governmental (PEG) channels. These noncommercial cable channels give community members access to media technology so they can create programming and produce content. Many PEG channels also provide locally oriented arts and cultural programming something rarely found on commercial television channels. Sincerely, Matt Wood Policy Director Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. FMC is a national nonprofit education, research and advocacy organization for musicians. For more than a decade, FMC has documented historic and emerging trends in the music industry, while bringing together a wide range of stakeholders including the artists themselves to engage in discussion about shared challenges and opportunities. FMC believes that artists must play a direct role in achieving a sustainable creative and cultural ecosystem. Our organization seeks to give musicians a voice in the debates that affect their livelihoods through informed, direct engagement. To achieve a functional and resilient 21st century creative community, we urge Congress to: Expand affordable, competitive and accessible broadband service to communities across America, so that creative entrepreneurs can participate in a legitimate digital marketplace Ensure Americas spectrum resources leave room for creative expression and innovation Expand and protect non-commercial radio as a means of giving local communities a voice on the public airwaves Examine the role infrastructure and investment plays in local creative economies to enhance Americas cultural practitioners chances at success Consider the impact of intellectual property enforcement efforts on creators In an evolving, technology-driven marketplace, it is crucial to consider the perspectives of creators themselves. FMC looks forward to being of service to you on these and other issues. Sincerely, Lissa Rosenthal, Executive Director Casey Rae-Hunter, Deputy Director

4055 21 Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119 (206) 624-2312 Fax (206) 624-5568 www.giarts.org

st

April 17, 2012

Dear Member of Congress: Grantmakers in the Arts is a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. As such, we are proud to support a creative America through our association of members representing private and community foundations, corporate foundations and giving programs, and state and local governmental agencies. Our members believe that artists and arts organizations offer a clear path to creativity and innovation by educating Americans about democracy and our diverse cultures and by expressing what it means to be unique individuals and to be Americans. From the beginning of this country, private and public partnerships have played a critical role in building a strong America with environments that offer creative opportunities for all people. Our communities are enhanced by the combined efforts of government and the private funding sector. Each entity has their own role and mission and we are most successful when working in tandem to make the arts accessible and enriching for all Americans. Nowhere in the nonprofit sector has the partnership of public and private dollars been so successful than in the nonprofit arts sector. Through all forms of music, dance, theatre, and visual and media arts, our history and our innovation in design and culture come alive. Artists lead our celebrations and challenge our conventions. Without public and private support to nurture and train children in creativity and selfexpression, Americas creative edge will disappear. Policy and financial incentives that support arts education in every public school are essential. Reading and math are tools to use in life. Artistic and cultural understanding molds a way of life for us as human beings. Thank you for your public service. Sincerely,

Janet Brown Executive Director

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of the 400+ members of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD), I extend greetings and express this organizations pleasure in being a co-sponsor of the Arts Advocacy Day 2012. ICFAD is the only organization focusing exclusively on issues that impact the arts in higher education and, while international in title, is primarily an organization of United States institutions. As you know, the arts benefit every American, and thus we urge you to continue to fund quality arts experiences. These funds help state and local arts initiatives survive as philanthropic dollars are decreasing. Furthermore, they help create jobs and drive economic activity by leveraging modest but critical funds at the state and local level. This is certainly a part of the solution to return to our former economic vitality. For our children, the arts provide powerful tools for development, enabling them to see themselves in a positive light, and to know what it means to create, to lead, and to be part of a team. All schools should offer a quality educational program that engages the students in some form of art making as a means of developing the imagination, creativity and innovation. Funding that you provide to the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the United States Department of Education has great impact in allowing schools to offer these important experiences to all. We pledge to continue to develop the great wealth of talent available and to graduate the very finest artists and arts educators in the years ahead. We ask your help in continuing to improve the future of the country through support of the arts infrastructure funding for the arts is critical to the ultimate good health of this nation! Cordially,

Raymond Tymas-Jones President

PO Box 110168 Bradenton, Florida 34211 www.icfad.org 941.753.0080

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, On behalf of Americas orchestras, and as a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day, the League of American Orchestras urges you to strengthen federal support for the arts. Supported by a network of managers, musicians, volunteers, and boards, Americas adult, youth, and college orchestras total more than 1,800 and exist in every state and territory, in cities and rural areas alike. We request your support for policies and funding that will strengthen the arts in communities nationwide: Strengthen our nations cultural heritage and encourage private contributions to the arts by preserving and strengthening incentives for charitable giving and reinstating the opportunity for individuals to roll over their IRAs to charity without penalty. As 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations, orchestras rely on the deductibility of private donations. Promote creativity and public access to the arts by supporting $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. Grants awarded to orchestras by the NEA, and funds administered by state arts agencies, provide vital resources supporting music education for children and adults, expanding public access to performances, and fostering the creative endeavors of contemporary classical musicians, composers, and conductors. NEA funding both directly supports local projects and also spurs critical giving from other sources like private foundations, corporations, and individual contributors. Prepare students with 21st century skills by supporting $30 million for the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education and strengthening support for arts education in the next Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As local partners in music education, orchestras collaborate with schools to strengthen arts education opportunities, helping to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and imaginative capacity needed to succeed. Improve international cultural relations by passing legislation that will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reduce the total processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations to a maximum of 45 days. By inviting foreign musicians to perform, orchestras provide American audiences the opportunity to experience a diversity of musical talent, and encourage a supportive climate for U.S. orchestras to perform abroad. We urge Congress to further improve international cultural exchange by supporting funding for the State Departments Cultural Programs Division. I encourage your support for policies and funding that strengthen the arts, orchestras, and the communities they serve. Sincerely,

Jesse Rosen President & CEO

Music for All, Inc. 39 W. Jackson Pl Ste. 150 Indianapolis, IN 46225 800.848.2263 317.636.2263 April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: Music for All is a proud National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Music for Alls mission is to create, provide and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all. As such, we are committed to maintaining and expanding the role of music and arts in scholastic education. Music for All is one of the largest and most influential national music education organizations in support of active music making. Over 300,000 participate in our programming each year. Since 1975, we have been a national destination setting the standard for scholastic music ensemble performance opportunities, combining our premier programming with awareness and advocacy about the value and power of active music making. Active participation in music and arts develops life and leadership skills, creativity and innovation necessary to prepare young men and women for success in our global economy. Music for All works to be a catalyst to ensure that every child across America has access and opportunity to participate in active music making in their scholastic environment. We use our resources to provide national programs that recognize and support music students' performance and success, offer music educator training and professional development, and deliver tools and resources to participants and their communities that will assist them in supporting music education by promoting awareness of music's impact on student and human growth and achievement. We strongly ask for your support of the following to ensure that music and arts education is a part of every childs core education: Guarantee of music and arts in public education as a key component of academic and lifetime success for young people in a global economy. Ensure that adequate funding is available for participatory, hands-on music and arts education in public education. Support new or reauthorized legislation and funding that recognizes the educational value and provides access and equity to music and arts education for every child. On behalf of all of the students, teachers, parents, alumni and supporters of Music for All programming, we thank you for your thoughtful support of music and arts education for all. Respectfully,

Eric L. Martin President & CEO

Nancy Carlson Executive Vice President

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: NAMAC is a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. NAMAC is the national arts service organization for the media arts whose members work in film, video, digital media and audio. Our mission is to foster and fortify the culture and business of the independent media arts. Through dialogue, collaboration, research and advocacy, we connect, organize and develop organizations. Our three hundred member organizations across the US serve and represent more than 400,000 producers and artists who create over 285,000 programs that reach over 33 million viewers and audiences annually. To strengthen our national creative assets, we urge Congress to support the following: Increase funding for the nations cultural agencies to ensure creative excellence throughout our nation: $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, and $154 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Resist any attempt to lessen or eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the current fiscal year, FY2012 and FY2013, and to fund CPB at $460 million in 2014. Pass the Community Access Preservation Act (H.R. 1746) that eliminates the federal restriction on the use of local programming funds, ensures technical quality equal to that available to commercial providers, and mandates that all providers delivering video via wired services be subject to the Cable Act. Ensure broadband accessibility to all communities in America, including economically disenfranchised urban areas and all rural areas, so they may compete in the global marketplace. And in tandem with a robust national broadband plan, ensure net neutrality for the internet so that it remains an open, available, and equitable pipeline for current and future communication among all citizens.

As media becomes more pervasive in our culture, it is imperative that we protect the free flow of ideas and creative expression by providing support for media created in the public interest, and for values beyond only the commercial demands of the marketplace. It is there that we may also discover true creative innovation, popular expression and pluralism. We invite you to visit our website at www.namac.org and see which NAMAC member organizations serve your communities. Sincerely,

Jack Walsh Executive Director

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, The National Art Education Association is pleased to be a National Co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. The National Art Education Association (NAEA) advances visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding. Founded in 1947, The National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. Members include elementary, middle and high school visual arts educators, college and university professors, researchers and scholars, teaching artists, administrators and supervisors, art museum educators and university students preparing to be art educators. NAEA promotes art education through professional development, service, advancement of research, knowledge, and leadership. In order to fulfill this mission, NAEA provides expertise, training, and resources that support professional growth and leadership, helping members affect the quality of student learning in their local schools, communities, and states. The Association believes that all students deserve a comprehensive, balanced and sequential program of instruction in the visual arts. Further, the Association believes that the art curriculum should be led and taught by teachers who are certified and qualified in the visual arts and designed to provide students with skills and knowledge in the arts in accordance with national, state and local standards. On behalf of the nations 90,000 professional visual arts educators, the National Art Education Association offers the following recommendations: Appropriate $30 million for the Arts in Education programs in the FY2013 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The Arts in Education program is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA): Retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects, and strengthen equitable access to arts learning through the following actions: 1. Require states to report annually on student access to, and participation in, all core academic subjects. 2. Improve student success in school, work, and life by strengthening arts education in provisions relating to afterschool/extended learning, teaching effectiveness, school turnaround, charter schools, and student assessment. 3. Improve the U.S. Department of Educations national data collection and research regarding what students know and are able to do in the arts and the conditions for teaching and learning in arts education. 4. Retain the Arts in Education program as a distinct grant competition. This federal commitment to improving equitable access to arts education should not be compromised by consolidation in appropriations. We urge Congress to carefully consider any major restructuring of the Arts in Education programs within the context of ESEA reauthorization. Thank you for your interest and thoughtful consideration of these recommendations. Sincerely,

Dr. F. Robert Sabol, NAEA President Professor of Visual and Performing Arts Purdue University, IN

Deborah B. Reeve, EdD Executive Director National Art Education Association

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, representing the state and special jurisdictional government arts agencies, urges you to support a budget for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in FY2013 at $155 million. Appropriations for the NEA at that level would enable the NEA to preserve citizen access to the cultural, educational, and economic benefits of the arts, to advance creativity and innovation, and improve access to the arts for all Americans. The range of activities funded by the NEA clearly demonstrates that the National Endowment for the Arts serves all Americansin all states and jurisdictions, in rural communities and in inner-city neighborhoods. Through its programs, the NEA makes America a better place to liveplaying a role in sustaining the organizations that produce and present the arts, enhancing the economy as well as community life, and producing educational programs. With almost 2,300 grants awarded each year, the NEA connects millions of Americans with the best of our nations creative spirit. The federal government, in partnership with state and local governments, private business and the nonprofit sector, provides the infrastructure of support for the arts that is critical to the economic vitality of state and local communities and to our nations cultural well-being. NEA funds granted to state arts agencies ensure that every state receives federal funds. Representing 40 percent of NEAs program dollars, grants to state arts agencies combine with state legislative appropriations and other dollars to ensure that federal funding has an even greater reach. In partnership with the NEA, state arts agencies in 2011awarded more than 22,000 grants to organizations, schools, and artists in nearly 5,000 communities across the United States, broadening access to the arts in each state and serving to strengthen the states arts infrastructure, through a combination of direct grants, technical assistance and services. We are encouraged that Congress has voted steadily in support of federal funds dedicated to the arts and we urge Congress to continue its commitment to meet the real needs of Americans to broaden, deepen, and diversify their participation in the arts. Sincerely,

Jonathan Katz Chief Executive Officer

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DRAMA THERAPY 44365 Premier Plaza, Suite 220, Ashburn, VA 20147 Ph. (888)) 416-7167 / Fx. (571) 223-6440 nadt.office@nadt.org
www.nadt.org

April 17, 2012 Dear Members of Congress, The National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT) is proud to serve as a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day, 2012. Drama therapists are masters degree professionals who integrate drama and psychotherapy to facilitate emotional and physical healing and well-being. We teach life skills which include goal setting, coping skills, problem solving, and the expression and processing of feelings. Drama therapy provides immediate on your feet treatment and learning through an active and experiential approach. Drama therapy benefits people from all walks of life, various ages, and stages of development. These include young children with emotional, physical and cognitive delays including autism, inner-city youth, military personnel and their families dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), developmentally and mentally disabled persons, and older adults with Alzheimer and other dementia related illnesses. Drama therapists work in state and federal facilities including Veterans Hospitals, behavior health hospitals, prisons, substance abuse treatment centers, and schools and after-school programs, adult day care centers, community centers, foster care and other social service agencies, nursing homes, corporations, faith centers, and private settings. On this day of advocating for the Arts, we urge members of Congress to:

Direct federal agencies involved in the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force to
support research focused on how the creative arts therapies affect the health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan Designate funding through Department of Defense, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs for Demonstration Projects for veterans and active military to access cost-effective creative arts in healthcare treatment and programming Support Dear Colleague Letter seeking clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapies interventions within existing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) Drama therapists deliver cost-efficient and effective treatment to improve the quality of life for people across America. Thank you for your support and consideration of our requests. Sincerely,

President, NADT Board

Government Affairs Chair, NADT Board

1900 Association Drive Reston, VA 20191 703.476.3464 www.aahperd.org/nda nda@aahperd.org

April 17, 2012

I believe strongly that arts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation's leaders

First Lady Michelle Obama

Dear Member of Congress: The National Dance Association (NDA), of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), is honored to be a National Co-Sponsor and serve on the Legislative Planning Committee for Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Our membership of professionals and future professionals unites a strong and growing network of educators, administrators, artists and researchers. NDA advocates the importance of dance education as an art and as a creative, healthy lifestyle for all ages and abilities.

Arts = Jobs! On behalf of the members of the National Dance Association, we encourage the Congress
to enact policy and funding initiatives that would provide broader access to arts in the communities we serve across this great nation. We urge the Congress:
To prepare students of the 21 century, by enacting funding of $30 million for the Arts in Education programs within the U.S. Department of Education; To increase funding for creative arts in healthcare research within federal agencies involved with the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force, including the National Institutes of Health, Administration on Aging, and the Department of Education; To promote excellence in and public access to the arts, by approving $155 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts; To invest in the countrys cultural and artistic workforce, providing jobs to 5.7 million people, attracting billions of dollars in tourism revenue, and returning $12.6 billion in federal income taxes annually boosting arts projects in Community Development Block Grants, revitalizing rural areas, inner cities, and populations struggling with poverty; and by supporting an Artists Corps under the Corporation for National and Community Service; To support international cultural exchanges, by increasing funding by $10 million for the Performing Artists Initiative and other cultural exchange programs within the US Department of States Cultural Programs Division; and by improving visa processing procedures for foreign guest artists; To improve incentives for private charitable giving to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, by enacting the Artist-Museum Partnership Act, to allow artists, choreographers and creators of original works to deduct the fair-market value of their works donated to nonprofit institutions; by supporting the IRA Charitable Rollover provision to permit donors to make tax-free charitable gifts directly from their IRAs to charities; and by amending the Qualified Performing Artist Deduction, IRC 62(a)(2)((B) and 62(b)(1) to allow performing artists to qualify for this benefit by raising the income cap to $30,000 from $16,000.
st

The National Dance Association/AAHPERD along with other arts and educational organizations, are integral parts of the business community, and generate $166.2 billion in economic activity every year, proving to our constituencies that the arts are an economic driver for our local communities and our nation. The National Dance Association thanks you for your support of these important arts programs. When our citizens have freedom to access the arts, we are assured economic and creative growth that benefits all.

Sincerely,

Colleen Dean
Colleen Hearn Dean NDA Administrator

May Yoneyama Gwinn

May Yoneyama Gwinn Arts Advocacy Legislative Committee Representative

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: The National Dance Education Organization is proud to be a National Co- Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. As the nations advocates for dance educators and dance education centered in the arts, we urge members of the House and Senate to consider the benefits of high quality dance education in the United States. All of our children need access to the best resources in order to reap the benefits of dance and to become active, engaged, creative contributors to the workforce. The U.S faces numerous challenges including how to address the needs of multi-cultural populations, rises in poverty levels, homelessness, and the needs of differently-abled students in our schools. These challenges are compounded by a newlyrecovering economy. Todays students face a global marketplace with a demand for creative thinkers who can thrive in a knowledge-based economy. To meet these challenges, we need: Quality dance programs in all schools. Research shows that dance directly builds both creative skills (discipline, innovation, complex problem-solving) and health (addressing issues of obesity and supporting lifelong wellness). Dance also provides a modality for crosscultural understanding and personal efficacy. We urge Congress to help us chart access to quality dance education through improved and inclusive surveys and to include dance in the National Assessment of Educational Progress so we can build on our understanding of how high quality dance programs impact our nations learners. Standards-based dance education beginning in early childhood. Children are natural dancers, but educators do not always understand how critical movement is to learning. NDEO has developed Standards for Learning and Teaching Dance in the Arts and Standards for Dance in Early Childhood. These standards need to be disseminated and evaluated in the field in order for children to have the opportunities to develop their natural talents and achieve in-depth learning. Highly qualified teachers and model programs. We recognize the importance of professional development and the role model programs play in education. NDEO has developed Professional Teaching Standards for Dance Arts to ensure that children have the best instruction possible and that teachers have sufficient content and pedagogical knowledge to address the needs of all children. NDEO has also developed criteria for model dance education programs that are designed to be taught by qualified educators in a graduated curriculum for all populations. Dance in community service. We fully support the proposed creation of an Artists Corps within the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The Artists Corps will work with nonprofit community organizations to place artists in communities to provide needs-based education, participatory performances, and outreach. Many dance organizations have a proven record of building community across boundaries and fostering empowered populations. The Value of Dance Education Children with ADHD have said that the world comes into focus while dancing. Dance teaches social skills, tolerance, and collaboration. Dance allows children the opportunity to explore physical and kinesthetic senses that promote self-esteem and a healthy, active life. Students who study dance test higher on the SATs (36 points higher on the verbal and 15 points higher on the math sections) and students of minority multicultural populations test as kinesthetic learners. Only 20% of U.S schools have dance programs, and only 7% of students are taught by a qualified dance educator. Every child deserves an opportunity to create, present, and learn through dance. Sincerely,

Jane Bonbright, Ed.D. Executive Director

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress:

As a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012, and on behalf of our diverse constituency of more than 450 member institutions serving more than 7 million students, the National Guild for Community Arts Education asks that you help us ensure all Americans have access to lifelong learning opportunities in the arts. As the sole national service organization for community arts education providers since 1937, the National Guilds network of nonprofit arts education organizations includes neighborhood music schools, arts centers, and arts education divisions of universities, theater and dance companies, museums, parks and recreation departments and others. United by their common commitments to quality, accessibility and accountability in arts education, these organizations foster lifelong participation in the performing, visual and literary arts, and develop the artists (amateur and professional), educators, and audiences of the future. Research shows that high quality instruction in the arts has many benefits for individuals and communities. When sustained and responsive to community needs, these programs foster cognitive development, increase creativity and improve health. They also foster democratic decision-making, advance economic growth and promote a sense of shared culture and belonging. They can be a valuable addition to or enrichment of K-12 education and a catalyst and conduit for innovative and collaborative community-wide and cross-sector alliances. When well-coordinated, these alliances can leverage vital resources for arts education, create networks of support and ensure that the arts learning needs and interests of all Americans (including young children, older adults, ESL students, learning disabled students, etc.) are adequately addressed. The benefits of arts education accrue over time and demand long-term partnerships, professional development for staff and teaching artists, and financial resources. To ensure that the arts learning needs and interests of all Americans are adequately addressed, we ask you to support an increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to $155 million for FY13 and to support $30 million in funding for the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education. Today, more than 7,500 nonprofit, arts organizations and government agencies are providing open access to classes, lessons and workshops in dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, visual arts and other disciplines. Many also are providing learning/development through the arts with a focus on positive aging, youth development, community building and other areas. Through partnerships with public schools, senior centers, public agencies and other organizations, they ensure the broadest possible access to arts education. With your support, we can continue to strengthen arts education and increase lifelong learning opportunities in the arts for every American.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Herman Executive Director

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress, The New York Dance Education Association, NYSDEA, is very proud to be a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012 in Washington D.C. In this capacity we represent thousands of your constituents who teach dance, learn dance and perform dance in the state of New York. We would like to encourage you to continue to support dance as essential art form in the United States by voting to continue arts funding at these levels:

NEA: $155 million Arts in Education: $30 million

NYSDEA is a non-profit organization incorporated in New York State that has its roots in the New York State Dance Association, which was established over 30 years ago. An autonomous membership organization, NYSDEA is the state affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and is recognized by the New York State Department of Education. Its purpose is to bring together members for networking and the sharing of ideas related to the mission of the organization, which is to advance dance education centered in the arts, throughout the State of New York. NYSDEA works with national and state organizations in carrying out the national mission of promoting and strengthening dance as an art form and as an effective tool for education. Our goal is to advocate, promote, support, and strengthen dance education in all environments and institutions in New York State. NYSDEA welcomes dance education professionals, students and institutions. We seek to serve a broad constituency: private sector, K-12 public and private schools, higher education, professional company education outreach, school and arts administrators, not-for-profit and for profit organizations, e.g., corporations, business and foundations that support dance. NYSDEA strengthens the network of dance educators, nationally, locally and throughout the state by providing quality professional development to dance educators in the State of New York offering opportunities for individuals to create, perform, and observe dance in the State of New York and by supporting the effort nationally. The many invaluable benefits for this broad constituency include: networking with others across the state and nationally, membership in the NDEO, the Journal of Dance Education: a national peer review publication, Annual NDEO conferences, New York State workshops, NYSDEA website for information sharing, National Honor Society for Dance Arts for students 11-18 years of age, and a voice in developing New York State dance policy and curricular issues. It is our hope that through Arts Advocacy Day, United States legislators will come to understand the powerful need to maintain funding for Dance Education throughout the United States. We encourage legislators to recognize the essential role dance as an art form should play in the education of students and citizens across all areas of the education spectrum. With sincere best wishes, Abigail Agresta-Stratton, MA, RDE President, NYSDEA New York State Dance Education Association

3 Aztec Drive - Bay Shore, NY 11706 - www.nysdea.org

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: As the national service organization for the entire opera community and a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012, OPERA America encourages you to support federal policy that will strengthen the arts in America. Founded in 1970, OPERA America has an international membership that includes nearly 150 Professional Company Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and over 16,000 subscribers to its electronic news service. OPERA America offers its members artistic services that help artists and companies increase the creativity and excellence of opera productions, especially North American works; opera company services that address the needs of staff, trustees, and volunteers; and education, audience development, and community services that increase all forms of opera appreciation. On behalf of OPERA Americas membership and those that it serves, we urge you to strengthen federal support for the arts in the following ways: Support artistic excellence and access to the arts by supporting a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts; Preserve charitable giving incentives, such as the charitable deduction and the IRA Charitable Rollover, without which public access to the arts would be severely diminished; and reject attempts to create a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits that discriminates against arts and culture by reducing tax deductibility of charitable gifts; Improve student achievement by allocating $30 million for the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education; When reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), include the following provisions: retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning, reauthorize the Arts in Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education, and conduct dedicated hearings on how arts education develops skills in creativity and innovation. Encourage international cultural exchange by directing a minimum of $15 million for the Cultural Programs Division of the State Departments Office of Citizen Exchanges; Enact legislation that will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reduce the total processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations to a maximum of 45 days. We encourage you to support funding and policies that continue to strengthen opera and the performing arts in communities across the nation. Sincerely,

Marc Scorca President and CEO

Brandon Gryde Director of Government Affairs

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: The Performing Arts Alliance is pleased to once again be a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Each year we gather together as arts advocates to ask for your support on policies that recognize the importance of creativity in America. The Performing Arts Alliance is a national network of more than 27,000 organizational and individual members comprising the professional, nonprofit performing arts and presenting fields. Our member organizations include: American Composers Forum, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Chorus America, Dance/USA, Fractured Atlas, League of American Orchestras, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, National Performance Network, New Music USA, OPERA America, and Theatre Communications Group. For more than 30 years, the Performing Arts Alliance has been the premiere advocate for Americas professional nonprofit performing arts organizations, artists, and their publics before the U.S. Congress and key policy makers. Through legislative and grassroots action, the Performing Arts Alliance advocates for national policies that recognize, enhance, and foster the contributions the performing arts make to America. On behalf of our members and the audiences they serve, we encourage you to enhance and strengthen the performing arts by supporting the following actions:
Increase Funding for the NEA We urge Congress to support a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in FY13. The NEA contributes to the economic growth and development of communities nationwide and nurtures the growth and artistic excellence of thousands of arts organizations and artists in every corner of the country. Encourage Gifts to Support the Arts in our Communities We urge Congress to preserve incentives for charitable giving, including tax deductibility and the IRA Charitable Rollover, and reject attempts to create a hierarchy of deductions to nonprofits that discriminates against arts and culture by reducing tax deductibility of charitable gifts. Increase Funding for Arts Education We urge Congress to support a budget of $30 million for the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education in FY13. Strengthen Arts Education in ESEA We urge Congress, in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), to retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects and strengthen equitable access to the arts in the legislation. Improve Visa Processing for Foreign Guest Artists We urge Congress to enact legislation that will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reduce the total processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations to a maximum of 45 days. Increase Funding for Cultural Exchange We urge Congress to appropriate $15 million for the Cultural Programs Division of the State Departments Office of Citizen Exchanges in FY13. Protect Performing Arts Technology We urge Congress to set aside $17.5 million in any spectrum auction legislation to defray the costs to performing arts organizations of moving wireless microphone operations in the broadcast spectrum.

We encourage you to support policies that support the performing arts in communities across the nation. Sincerely,

Roche Schulfer Chair, Performing Arts Alliance

Performing Arts Alliance 1211 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200 | Washington, DC 20036 Tel. 202.207.3850 | Fax 202.833.1543 www.theperformingartsalliance.org

2647 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20008 TEL 202/299-9770 FAX 202/299-9887 www.thesah.org

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: I write on behalf of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, a proud National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. Recognizing the economic pressures on our country, one point is clear: it is imperative to explore cost-effective options for delivery of quality healthcare services. Integrating the arts into healthcare settings has a profound effectimproving patient care, saving costs, and creating safer and healthier environments. In our landmark study of over 2,000 hospitals, Cultures of Care: A Study of Arts Programs in U.S. Hospitals, half reported using arts programming to create healing environments, support patient mental and emotional recovery, communicate health information, and foster positive working conditions. Other studies have shown that creative arts interventions with patients have resulted in shorter hospital stays, fewer medical visits, decreased use of medical interventions covered by Medicare among the aging, and reduced use of sedatives during medical procedures, among other cost-saving benefits. To strengthen the arts in health, we urge you to support arts and health by: Directing federal agencies involved in the Arts and Human Development Interagency Task Force to support research focused on how the arts affect the health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan Designating funding through Department of Defense, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs for Demonstration Projects for veterans and active military to access cost-effective creative arts in healthcare treatment and programming Supporting a Dear Colleague Letter seeking clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the inclusion of creative arts therapies interventions within existing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) Supporting a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations bill to preserve citizen access to the cultural, educational, and economic benefits of the arts, and to advance creativity and innovation in communities across the United States Founded in 1991, the Society for the Arts in Healthcare is a Washington, DC-based non-profit membership organization dedicated to advancing the arts as integral to healthcare. Funded in part by the National Endowment of the Arts and Johnson & Johnson, the Society provides program and professional development support through resources and information, consulting services, and the convening of conferences and symposia to a wide range of arts and healthcare institutions. With over 1,700 members in 49 states, our membership represents diverse fields: healthcare decision makers, doctors, nurses, architects, interior designers, researchers, and the artistic community. Thank you for your leadership and support of the growth of arts in healthcare in our country. Sincerely,

Anita B. Boles Executive Director

Approaching Health Creatively

April 17, 2012

Dear Member of Congress, South Arts is a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012. We are a nonprofit regional arts organization with the mission of strengthening the South through advancing excellence in the arts, connecting the arts to key state and national policies and nurturing a vibrant quality of life. We work in partnership with the nine state arts agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Together, we serve a very large and diverse population. South Arts carries out its work with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts. We feel strongly about the importance of the issues coming before this Congress. Specifically, we urge you to support the following: National Endowment for the Arts We urge Congress: To support a budget of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in the FY 2013 Interior Appropriations bill to preserve citizen access to the cultural, educational, and economic benefits of the arts and to advance creativity and innovation in communities across the United States. Arts in Education We urge Congress to: Appropriate $30 million for the Arts in Education (AIE) programs in the FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The Arts in Education program is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Retain the Arts in Education program as a distinct grant competition in FY 2013 appropriations. We believe favorable consideration of these issues is vital to the future of our nation and our people.

Respectfully yours,

Gerri Combs Executive Director

1800 PEACHTREE STREET NW . SUITE 808 | ATLANTA . GEORGIA 30309 PHONE 404.874.7244 | FAX 404.873.2148 | EMAIL SOUTHARTS@SOUTHARTS. ORG

April 17, 2012 Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of Theatre Communications Group the national service organization for the American theatre and the nearly 500 not-for-profit theatres across the country that comprise our membership, we urge you to support funding for the National Endowment for the Arts at $155 million, for arts education programs at the U.S. Department of Education at $30 million, for enlightened tax policies benefiting the arts and to set aside $17.5 million in any spectrum auction legislation to defray the costs to performing arts organizations of moving wireless microphone operations in the broadcast spectrum. More than 1,800 theatres not-for-profit professional theatres in the U.S., those that filed IRS Form 990, present performances to a combined annual attendance of more than 31 million people. Our countrys not-for-profit theatres develop innovative educational activities and outreach programs, providing millions of young people, including at-risk youth, with important skills for the future by expanding their creativity and developing problem-solving, reasoning and communication abilities preparing todays students to become tomorrows citizens. Our theatres present new works and serve as catalysts for economic growth in their local communities. NEAfunded theatres have become increasingly responsive to their communities, producing work that reflects and celebrates the strength of our nations diversity. At the same time, these theatres provide artistic homes to nurture and develop the current generation of acclaimed writers, actors, directors and designers who also work on Broadway and in film and television industries. Indeed, the entire not-for-profit arts industry stimulates the economy, creates jobs and attracts tourism dollars. The not-for-profit arts generate $166.2 billion annually in economic activity, support 5.7 million jobs and return $12.6 billion in federal income taxes. Art museums, exhibits and festivals combine with performances of theatre, dance, opera and music to draw tourists and their consumer dollars to communities nationwide. Federal funding of the arts creates a significant return, generating many more dollars in matching funds for each federal dollar awarded, and is clearly an investment in the economic health of America. In a difficult economy where corporate donations and foundation grants are diminished, and increased ticket prices would undermine efforts to broaden and diversify audiences, these federal funds simply cannot be replaced. Maintaining the strength of the not-for-profit sector, along with the commercial sector, is vital to the economic health of our nation. Theatre Communications Group, as a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 2012, urges you to support funding for FY13 for the NEA, so that not-for-profit professional arts organizations can continue to educate and entertain audiences, train the next generation of artists, better equip tomorrows citizens, and generate local revenue nationwide. Sincerely,

Teresa Eyring Executive Director

Laurie Baskin Director of Government & Education Programs