New Economy Funding Initiative
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Below
are template letters and resolutions to help you take action for the New
Economy Funding Initiative. Cut-and-paste these templates into
a Word document, and personalize with information about your work, your
organization and your community (click
here for additional information to include with your letter, resolution
or op-ed).
- Letter of support-individual (send to Gov. Doyle)
- Letter of support-organization (send to Gov. Doyle)
- Board of Directors resolution (send to Arts Wisconsin)
- Op-ed article for newspaper/magazine (click here for Wisconsin electronic and print media outlet list) - coming soon
Letter of support-individual
(send to Gov. Doyle at address below)
[date]
Governor Jim Doyle
Room 19 East, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Dear Gov. Doyle,
As a concerned citizen of this great state, I am writing to ask you to invest in Wisconsin’s future by increasing funding to $1 per capita for the Wisconsin Arts Board in the 2009-2011 state budget. Your leadership in increasing the Arts Board’s budget-the first increase in sixteen years-will demonstrate your commitment to strengthening the state’s investment in its people and communities.
Support from the state through grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board, the state agency dedicated to culture, commerce, creativity and community has made numerous performances, exhibits and educational programs possible here in [community]. Increased state investment in artistic, cultural and creative people, programs and communities means more ways to grow Wisconsin creatively as a powerhouse in the 21st century global economy.
The Wisconsin Arts Board’s budget is currently funded at 44 cents per person, making Wisconsin 43rd in the nation in per-capita funding of the arts. 1992 was the last year in which the Arts Board’s budget was increased beyond obligatory salary raises. The decline in state funding has occurred at a time when the amount of arts activity statewide, the demand for participation by the citizens of Wisconsin, and the need for Wisconsin’s investment in the 21st century economy of innovation and creativity, has dramatically increased.
With this investment by the state, organizations in [community]
and throughout Wisconsin will:
• Provide access to the arts for everyone in our community
• Add to the vitality and quality of life in our community, keeping
it a great place to live, work and play.
• Partner with our community’s business and education sectors
on educational and workforce development programs to offer exciting, entrepreneurial
partnerships and job opportunities through workforce development to incubate,
attract and retain innovative companies and entrepreneurs
• Provide educational programs for students that help develop the
skills needed for the 21st century workforce
• Strengthen the artistic and cultural infrastructure statewide,
to provide access to the arts for all Wisconsin citizens and to ensure
vibrant and livable communities in every corner of the state.
Again, thank you for making this investment in Wisconsin’s future. Your leadership on this issue will help Wisconsin to be better able to compete in the new global marketplace, strengthen its educational systems, and sustaining a live/work/play environment that keeps our best and brightest right here at home.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
Letter of support-organization
(send to Gov. Doyle at address below)
[date]
Governor Jim Doyle
Room 19 East, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Dear Gov. Doyle,
On behalf of [organization] and our audiences in [name of community], I am writing to ask you to invest in Wisconsin’s future by increasing funding to $1 per capita for the Wisconsin Arts Board in the 2009-2011 state budget. Your leadership in increasing the Arts Board’s budget-the first increase in sixteen years-will demonstrate your commitment to strengthening the state’s investment in its people and communities.
Support from the state through grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board, the state agency dedicated to culture, commerce, creativity and community has made it possible for [organization] to bring performances, exhibits and educational programs to the community. With increased state investment in artistic, cultural and creative people, programs and communities, we will be able to do more to help grow Wisconsin creatively as a powerhouse in the 21st century global economy.
The Wisconsin Arts Board’s budget is currently funded at 44 cents per person, making Wisconsin 43rd in the nation in per-capita funding of the arts. 1992 was the last year in which the Arts Board’s budget was increased beyond obligatory salary raises. The decline in state funding has occurred at a time when the amount of arts activity statewide, the demand for participation by the citizens of Wisconsin, and the need for Wisconsin’s investment in the 21st century economy of innovation and creativity, has dramatically increased.
With this investment by the state, [organization] will:
• Provide access to the arts for everyone in our community
• Add to the vitality and quality of life in our community, keeping
it a great place to live, work and play.
• Partner with our community’s business and education sectors
on educational and workforce development programs to offer exciting, entrepreneurial
partnerships and job opportunities through workforce development to incubate,
attract and retain innovative companies and entrepreneurs
• Provide educational programs for students that help develop the
skills needed for the 21st century workforce
• Strengthen the artistic and cultural infrastructure statewide,
to provide access to the arts for all Wisconsin citizens and to ensure
vibrant and livable communities in every corner of the state.
Again, on behalf of constituents in the [community] area, thank you for making this investment in Wisconsin’s future. Your leadership on this issue will help Wisconsin to be better able to compete in the new global marketplace, strengthen its educational systems, and sustaining a live/work/play environment that keeps our best and brightest right here at home.
Sincerely,
[Name, title]
[Organization]
[Address]
Board of Directors resolution (send to Arts Wisconsin at address below, to deliver to Governor and legislators)
[date]
Support from the state through grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board, the state agency dedicated to culture, commerce, creativity and community, has made it possible for [organization] to provide artistic and cultural opportunities for the [location] community, and stimulate economic vitality, educational advancement, and civic engagement for [location]’s residents.
Therefore, the Board of Directors of [organization] fully supports the Wisconsin Arts Board’s New Economy Funding Initiative as an appropriate and necessary mechanism to invest in the arts and arts education as essential components of Wisconsin’s 21st century economy.
With increased state investment in artistic, cultural and creative people, programs and communities, we will be able to do more to help grow Wisconsin creatively as a powerhouse in the 21st century global economy.
Signed,
[Name, Title] on behalf of [organization]’s Board of Directors
Please send as a .pdf email attachment or snail-mail to:
Arts Wisconsin
Box 1054
Madison, WI 53701-1054
akatz@artswisconsin.org
Arts Wisconsin encourages you to customize your letter with information about your specific organization, programs and community, such as:
[Organization] is a vital, vibrant, community-based resource which engages over [x] people annually through the arts. With strong support from the state through the New Economy Funding Initiative, [organization] will be able to increase service to the [name of community] community in these ways [include a paragraph on how increased state support for your organization will help serve community, by showing that you are:
-
Addressing educational, economic and/or social needs.
-
Understanding and responding to diverse interests and needs
-
Partnering with the public and private sectors to meet those needs
-
Broadening, deepening and diversifying participation in our activities
-
Identifying and minimizing barriers to participation in our activities.]