VOL. 12 NO. 5
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VOL. 12 NO. 5 |
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The Blue Moon is published bi-monthly by the Kentucky Arts
Council, a state agency in the Commerce
Cabinet. Please send comments, questions
and information to the Blue Moon, Kentucky Arts Council, 500 Mero Street, 21st
Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601-1987 or call 502-564-3757, toll free 1-888-833-2787.
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 Katrina Relief Efforts In Place for Artists and Arts OrganizationsAmericans for the Arts efforts have responded to desperate need for information through an expansion of their website, which lists the relief efforts on the national, state and local levels. It has also set up an online bulletin board to gather and disseminate information at www.AmericansfortheArts.org. If you have heard news about how arts organizations, cultural facilities and artists are faring in the aftermath of the hurricane please don’t hesitate to submit info on the bulletin board. The Southern Arts Federation has established an Emergency Relief Fund to assist arts organizations and artists residing in the Gulf Coast communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Bowling Green, Kentucky artist Andee Rudloff has already organized a number of artists for a yard art sale on September 10 and will be sending the proceeds to the Southern Arts Federation Emergency Relief Fund. Donations may be made by check or credit card. Please make checks out to: Southern Arts Federation Emergency Relief Fund. All donations are tax-deductible. Down load the contribution form at http://www.southarts.org/download/EmergencyReliefFund.pdf, complete your donation record and send via mail or FAX to: Southern Arts
Federation The Craft Emergency Relief Fund, established in 1985, is also accepting donations. CERF’s Disaster Relief Fund offers interest free loan programs and staff assistance to professional craft artists that have suffered significant losses. To make a contribution to CERF, please visit their website at www.craftemergency.org. National Endowment for the Arts Funding
Subsequently, on August 2, 2005, with Congress in recess, President Bush signed into law the above FY06 Interior Appropriations Bill, with an increase of $5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In regards to NEA funding in particular, this is reduced to a net gain of $4.4 million after applying .476 percent across-the-board cut to all programs. The final funding level agreed to by the conference committee and signed into law represented a compromise between the House-passed bill, which would have added $10 million to the NEA budget, and the Senate's bill, which carried $5 million in new money for the arts endowment. To read source, visit www.nasaa-arts.org/nasaanews/congress_increase.shtml. Smaller Arts Organizations Have Better Access to APAP (Association for Performing Arts Presenters)The Association of Performing Arts Presenters, a national service and advocacy agency, has restructured its dues program to allow small and mid-size arts organizations to be part of the largest network in the performing arts. The new structure, which dramatically drops membership entry levels to $150, is designed to provide greater access, value and equity for the performing arts field. "This new dues structure allows organizations who can benefit most from our networks and members to join the Association," said Sandra Gibson, president and CEO of Arts Presenters. "There is an increasing number of small organizations in the field who want to take advantage of our member benefits but have been unable to join because of finances. We are thrilled to be able to give more performing arts organizations access to field research, resources and opportunities." With more than 1,700 members worldwide, Arts Presenters is dedicated to bringing artists and audiences together through touring and presenting and is committed to increasing community participation, promoting global cultural exchange and fostering an environment for the performing arts to thrive. A leader in the field, Arts Presenters works to effect change through professional development, resource sharing and civic engagement. A complete listing of services and benefits can be reviewed at State Revenues Are Improving – Expenditures Pressures PersistIn spite of notable rebounds in states' fiscal year 2005 revenues another tight year is projected for budgets across the country. According to The Fiscal Survey of States report, governors and legislatures will have to contend with a backlog of expenditure demands, a reduction in federal fiscal relief funds, and general spending increases in major program areas. For more information, visit www.nasaa-arts.org/nasaanews/expenditures_pressures.shtml. Senate Allocates Level Funding for Arts EducationThe Senate Appropriations Committee has now completed its consideration
of the appropriations legislation that funds the Departments of Labor,
Health & Human Services, and Education. The bill contains $35.7 million
for the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education,
an increase of For more information, visit ww3.artsusa.org/services/arts_education/ Conference of Mayors Adopts Arts Policy ResolutionsThe United States Conference of Mayors, one of the most important public
partners to Americans for the Arts, unanimously adopted nine arts policy
resolutions during their 73rd Annual Meeting in Chicago. Some of the
adopted policy resolutions include: (1) to celebrate and participate
in National Arts and Humanities Month; (2) to support federal funding
for the arts, humanities and museums; (3) to support the need to establish
a Senate Cultural Caucus; (4) to locally support the Art. Ask for More.
public awareness campaign for arts education; (5) to celebrate and honor
the 30th anniversary of the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act; (6) to
recognize and honor the 45th anniversary of Americans for the Arts; and
(7) to recognize and honor the 40th anniversary of the National Endowment
for the Arts and Humanities. The policy resolutions were drafted by Americans
for the Arts and proposed by Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz, Chair of the
Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee.
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Before adjourning for the August recess, Congress passed the final conference
committee agreement on the FY06 Interior Appropriations Bill, with an
increase of $5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
and $5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The
conference committee agreement restored $3 million of the $6.5 million
cut from the Challenge America program in the president’s budget
proposal, and added $2 million to the new American Masterpieces initiative
above the $8 million already in place. 