Most weeks, the Friday Art News Roundup brings you announcements from inside the state’s borders. Today—an item of national news that will likely affect Nevada arts.
Congress recommends federal arts funding increase
On Dec. 20, Congress recommended a bill that would increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities by $27 million each. These increases would boost each organization’s budget to $207 million, an all-time high.
“This will mean more federal funding for the arts to Nevada through the Nevada Arts Council,” NAC Executive Director Tony Manfredi wrote in an email. “It may also result in more direct grants from the NEA to arts organizations in Nevada.”
“The NEA is required to give 40% of its funding appropriation to the 56 State and Regional arts organizations …” Manfredi added. We should know more about Nevada’s allocation in the spring.
The bill also recommends:
- A $26.8 million increase to the Institute of Museum and Library Services
- A $10 million increase for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- A first-time ever budget allocation of $10 million in the Department of Defense to support creative art therapy programs at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence and $5 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs for its Whole Health initiative.
- More than $66 million in direct project funding for over 68 arts organizations across the country
- $36.5 million for the Department of Education’s Assistance for Arts Education programs
- Changes to the Legacy IRA Act intended to encourage more charitable giving
In an email announcement from Americans for the Arts, Nina Ozlu Tunceli—the group’s Chief Counsel of Government and Public Affairs and Executive Director of Americans for the Arts Action Fund—wrote, “Please take a few minutes to thank your congressional members for supporting the arts in America and urge them to vote for final passage of this major legislation as soon as possible.”
Ozlu Tunceli included this form, which streamlines communications with Congress members and provides suggested wording to recommend full passage of the bill.
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