IMPORTANT! Funding for Duval County Arts and Culture Organizations Requires Your Action, Now!

If this message is clipped in your email, please click "View in Browser" in the top right portion of the message. Additionally, please forward and share this mailer with your friends, family members, and colleagues . Become an ADVOCATE FOR ART AND CULTURE This week, Mayor Lenny Curry released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-2019 . Throughout the year, the Cultural Council has worked with a group of cultural leaders to advocate for increasing the grant pool for non-profit arts organizations in Duval County from $2.4 million to $3.4 million. The mayor's proposed budget did not accommodate the requested increase. In 1990, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville was designated by the City of Jacksonville as the official re-granting agency for arts and cultural organizations in Duval County. The agency receives funding through the City as budget line item "PSG-Cultural Council." In 2017, the U.S. News and World Report noted, “ Jacksonville is growing. The region witnessed an ignition of the arts and music scene, stimulating business development that has led to demand for a higher standard of living. As a result, Jacksonville is undergoing an economic boom. ” Over the past five years, Jacksonville has experienced an average population growth of 1.46%, or 7,759 new residents each year. Despite this growth, funding for our sector has remained flat since fiscal year 2013-2014; and declined from over a decade ago with peak funding in 2002-2003. While funding has remained flat, eligible non-profit cultural organizations applying for funds has increased. In fiscal year 2013-2014 there were 21 organizations that received funding. For fiscal year 2018-2019 there are 27 eligible organizations that have applied for funding. This means that organizations are being awarded smaller amounts, which negatively impacts their ability to serve their missions. Compound this with the fact that the State's budget cut funding for arts and culture by 90%. The next step in advocacy is to appeal to City Council and the Finance Committee . There is a special Finance Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 16 that will specifically review all PSG budget items. Additionally, the Finance Committee meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 9:00 AM in City Hall. These meetings are open to the public. Between now and September, the Finance Committee will formulate their 2018-2019 budget recommendations to present to all of City Council. steps for advocacy 1) Contact Your City Council Member Visit the City of Jacksonville's website to identify your Council Member . Then, contact your Council Member by both telephone and email to let he or she know that you support an increase in funding for "PSG-Cultural Council" in the City's 2018-2019 budget. Please use this as an opportunity to relay to your Council Member ways in which any of the currently funded organizations have positively impacted your quality of life. Currently funded organizations include: Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre Beaches Fine Art Series Beaches Museum and History Park Cathedral Arts Project Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens Don't Miss a Beat Florida Ballet Florida Theatre Friday Musicale Hope at Hand Jacksonville Children's Chorus Jacksonville Dance Theatre Jacksonville Historical Society Jacksonville Symphony Association Mandarin Museum and Historical Society Museum of Contemporary Art - Jacksonville Museum of Science and History Players by the Sea Ritz Chamber Players Riverside Fine Arts Association Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council The Performers Academy Theatre Jacksonville Theatreworks WJCT Public Broadcasting Sample email: Dear Council Member (Insert CM's name), I am a resident of District (insert District number). I am writing in support of public funding for arts and culture. Though our cultural sector has played a role in making Jacksonville a better place to live, work, and visit, public funding for non-profit arts and cultural organizations has remained flat since fiscal year 2013-2014. It is my strong belief that an increase in public funding is long overdue and I am writing to encourage City Council to consider increasing PSG funding for the Cultural Council in the budget for fiscal year 2018-2019. (Insert personal story relating to a non-profit arts organization) Sincerely, Your Constituent, (Insert Your Name) 2) Contact the Finance Committee Chair Council Member Greg Anderson is the Chair of the Finance Committee. CM Anderson can be contacted at (904) 630-1398 and [email protected]. Additional Committee members include CM Joyce Morgan (Vice Chair), CM Lori Boyer , CM Reginald Gaffney , CM Bill Gulliford , CM Jim Love , and CM Sam Newby . When contacting the Finance Committee Chair, let CM Greg Anderson know that you support an increase in funding for "PSG-Cultural Council" in the City's budget for fiscal year 2018-2019. 3) Write a Letter to the Editor We encourage you to share with the community why you believe public funding for arts and culture are important. It is especially important that we rally Jacksonville's corporate executives to express why an area with a strong cultural presence and activities is important to them as employers. But, make no mistake, everyone's voice matters! Please use your voice today to advocate on behalf of the arts and cultural sector. Email letters to [email protected] . Tips: Letters have a better chance of being published if they include these traits: 1. Brevity helps. A lead letter is 350 words, an opinion column is 600 words. We prefer lead letters over columns. For regular letters we suggest a maximum length of about 200 words. 2. Cite sources for important facts and quotations so we can check them. 3. Avoid personal comments. Stick to the issues. 4. Be sure to list your name, address and phone number for confirmation. 5. If you are especially interested in having your letter published, send an email to Editorial Page Editor Mike Clark: mike.clark@ jacksonville.com An additional option In addition to the three action items provided above, you can submit a story or testimonial about how Jacksonville's arts and culture sector have positively impacted your life through the Cultural Council's website by visiting our Advocacy page . 10 Reasons to Support arts and culture Cultural organizations and artists are poised to assist the City as they address their social priorities, including: Public Safety, Economic Development, Neighborhood Development, Youth Engagement, and Health and Wellness. The work of cultural organizations and artists expand far beyond just our sector. We have to dismantle the misconception that arts and culture exist in a silo and instead provide examples of how art and culture are woven into the fabric of every day life. Below are 10 reasons to support the arts, per Americans for the Arts. 1) Arts improve individual well-being . 63 percent of the population believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences,” 64 percent feel the arts give them “pure pleasure to experience and participate in,” and 73 percent say the arts are a “positive experience in a troubled world.” 2) Arts unify communities . 67 percent of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity” and 62 percent agree that the arts “help me understand other cultures better”—a perspective observed across all demographic and economic categories. 3) Arts improve academic performance . Students engaged in arts learning have higher GPAs and standardized test scores, and lower drop-out rates. The Department of Education reports that access to arts education for students of color is significantly lower than for their white peers, and has declined for three decades. Yet, research shows that low socio-economic-status students have even greater increases in academic performance, college-going rates, college grades, and holding jobs with a future. 88 percent of Americans believe that arts are part of a well-rounded K-12 education. 4) Arts strengthen the economy . The arts and culture sector is a $730 billion industry, which represents 4.2 percent of the nation’s GDP—a larger share of the economy than transportation, tourism, and agriculture (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis). The nonprofit arts industry alone generates $135 billion in economic activity annually (spending by organizations and their audiences), which supports 4.1 million jobs and generates $22.3 billion in government revenue. 5) Arts are good for local businesses . Attendees at nonprofit arts events spend $24.60 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and babysitters—valuable revenue for local commerce and the community. Attendees who live outside the county in which the arts event takes place spend twice as much as their local counterparts ($39.96 vs. $17.42). 6) Arts drive tourism . Arts travelers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek out authentic cultural experiences. Arts destinations grow the economy by attracting foreign visitor spending. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that, between 2003-2015, the percentage of international travelers including “art gallery and museum visits” on their trip grew from 17 to 29 percent, and the share attending “concerts, plays, and musicals” increased from 13 to 16 percent. 7) Arts are an export industry . The arts and culture industries had a $30 billion international trade surplus in 2014, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. exports of arts goods (e.g., movies, paintings, jewelry) exceeded $60 billion. 8) Arts spark creativity and innovation . Creativity is among the top 5 applied skills sought by business leaders—with 72 percent saying creativity is of high importance when hiring. The Conference Board’s Ready to Innovate report concludes, “The arts—music, creative

If this message is clipped in your email, please click "View in Browser" in the top right portion of the message.

Additionally, please forward and share this mailer with your friends, family members, and colleagues.

Become an

ADVOCATE

FOR ART AND CULTURE

This week, Mayor Lenny Curry released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-2019. Throughout the year, the Cultural Council has worked with a group of cultural leaders to advocate for increasing the grant pool for non-profit arts organizations in Duval County from $2.4 million to $3.4 million. The mayor's proposed budget did not accommodate the requested increase.

In 1990, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville was designated by the City of Jacksonville as the official re-granting agency for arts and cultural organizations in Duval County. The agency receives funding through the City as budget line item "PSG-Cultural Council."

In 2017, the U.S. News and World Report noted, “Jacksonville is growing. The region witnessed an ignition of the arts and music scene, stimulating business development that has led to demand for a higher standard of living. As a result, Jacksonville is undergoing an economic boom.” Over the past five years, Jacksonville has experienced an average population growth of 1.46%, or 7,759 new residents each year.

Despite this growth, funding for our sector has remained flat since fiscal year 2013-2014; and declined from over a decade ago with peak funding in 2002-2003.

While funding has remained flat, eligible non-profit cultural organizations applying for funds has increased. In fiscal year 2013-2014 there were 21 organizations that received funding. For fiscal year 2018-2019 there are 27 eligible organizations that have applied for funding. This means that organizations are being awarded smaller amounts, which negatively impacts their ability to serve their missions. Compound this with the fact that the State's budget cut funding for arts and culture by 90%.

The next step in advocacy is to appeal to City Council and the Finance Committee. There is a special Finance Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 16 that will specifically review all PSG budget items. Additionally, the Finance Committee meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 9:00 AM in City Hall. These meetings are open to the public. Between now and September, the Finance Committee will formulate their 2018-2019 budget recommendations to present to all of City Council.

steps for advocacy

1) Contact Your City Council Member

Visit the City of Jacksonville's website to identify your Council Member. Then, contact your Council Member by both telephone and email to let he or she know that you support an increase in funding for "PSG-Cultural Council" in the City's 2018-2019 budget. Please use this as an opportunity to relay to your Council Member ways in which any of the currently funded organizations have positively impacted your quality of life.

Currently funded organizations include:

Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre
Beaches Fine Art Series
Beaches Museum and History Park
Cathedral Arts Project
Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
Don't Miss a Beat
Florida Ballet
Florida Theatre
Friday Musicale
Hope at Hand
Jacksonville Children's Chorus
Jacksonville Dance Theatre
Jacksonville Historical Society
Jacksonville Symphony Association
Mandarin Museum and Historical Society
Museum of Contemporary Art - Jacksonville
Museum of Science and History
Players by the Sea
Ritz Chamber Players
Riverside Fine Arts Association
Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council
The Performers Academy
Theatre Jacksonville
Theatreworks
WJCT Public Broadcasting

Sample email:

Dear Council Member (Insert CM's name),

I am a resident of District (insert District number). I am writing in support of public funding for arts and culture. Though our cultural sector has played a role in making Jacksonville a better place to live, work, and visit, public funding for non-profit arts and cultural organizations has remained flat since fiscal year 2013-2014. It is my strong belief that an increase in public funding is long overdue and I am writing to encourage City Council to consider increasing PSG funding for the Cultural Council in the budget for fiscal year 2018-2019.

(Insert personal story relating to a non-profit arts organization)

Sincerely, Your Constituent,

(Insert Your Name)

2) Contact the Finance Committee Chair

Council Member Greg Anderson is the Chair of the Finance Committee. CM Anderson can be contacted at (904) 630-1398 and [email protected]. Additional Committee members include CM Joyce Morgan (Vice Chair), CM Lori Boyer, CM Reginald Gaffney, CM Bill Gulliford, CM Jim Love, and CM Sam Newby.

When contacting the Finance Committee Chair, let CM Greg Anderson know that you support an increase in funding for "PSG-Cultural Council" in the City's budget for fiscal year 2018-2019.

3) Write a Letter to the Editor

We encourage you to share with the community why you believe public funding for arts and culture are important. It is especially important that we rally Jacksonville's corporate executives to express why an area with a strong cultural presence and activities is important to them as employers. But, make no mistake, everyone's voice matters! Please use your voice today to advocate on behalf of the arts and cultural sector.

Email letters to [email protected].
Tips: Letters have a better chance of being published if they include these traits:
1. Brevity helps. A lead letter is 350 words, an opinion column is 600 words. We prefer lead letters over columns. For regular letters we suggest a maximum length of about 200 words.
2. Cite sources for important facts and quotations so we can check them.
3. Avoid personal comments. Stick to the issues.
4. Be sure to list your name, address and phone number for confirmation.
5. If you are especially interested in having your letter published, send an email to Editorial Page Editor Mike Clark: mike.clark@jacksonville.com

An additional option

In addition to the three action items provided above, you can submit a story or testimonial about how Jacksonville's arts and culture sector have positively impacted your life through the Cultural Council's website by visiting our Advocacy page.

10 Reasons to Support arts and culture

Cultural organizations and artists are poised to assist the City as they address their social priorities, including: Public Safety, Economic Development, Neighborhood Development, Youth Engagement, and Health and Wellness. The work of cultural organizations and artists expand far beyond just our sector. We have to dismantle the misconception that arts and culture exist in a silo and instead provide examples of how art and culture are woven into the fabric of every day life.

Below are 10 reasons to support the arts, per Americans for the Arts.

1) Arts improve individual well-being. 63 percent of the population believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences,” 64 percent feel the arts give them “pure pleasure to experience and participate in,” and 73 percent say the arts are a “positive experience in a troubled world.”

2) Arts unify communities. 67 percent of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity” and 62 percent agree that the arts “help me understand other cultures better”—a perspective observed across all demographic and economic categories.

3) Arts improve academic performance. Students engaged in arts learning have higher GPAs and standardized test scores, and lower drop-out rates. The Department of Education reports that access to arts education for students of color is significantly lower than for their white peers, and has declined for three decades. Yet, research shows that low socio-economic-status students have even greater increases in academic performance, college-going rates, college grades, and holding jobs with a future. 88 percent of Americans believe that arts are part of a well-rounded K-12 education.

4) Arts strengthen the economy. The arts and culture sector is a $730 billion industry, which represents 4.2 percent of the nation’s GDP—a larger share of the economy than transportation, tourism, and agriculture (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis). The nonprofit arts industry alone generates $135 billion in economic activity annually (spending by organizations and their audiences), which supports 4.1 million jobs and generates $22.3 billion in government revenue.

5) Arts are good for local businesses. Attendees at nonprofit arts events spend $24.60 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and babysitters—valuable revenue for local commerce and the community. Attendees who live outside the county in which the arts event takes place spend twice as much as their local counterparts ($39.96 vs. $17.42).

6) Arts drive tourism. Arts travelers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek out authentic cultural experiences. Arts destinations grow the economy by attracting foreign visitor spending. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that, between 2003-2015, the percentage of international travelers including “art gallery and museum visits” on their trip grew from 17 to 29 percent, and the share attending “concerts, plays, and musicals” increased from 13 to 16 percent.

7) Arts are an export industry. The arts and culture industries had a $30 billion international trade surplus in 2014, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. exports of arts goods (e.g., movies, paintings, jewelry) exceeded $60 billion.

8) Arts spark creativity and innovation. Creativity is among the top 5 applied skills sought by business leaders—with 72 percent saying creativity is of high importance when hiring. The Conference Board’s Ready to Innovate report concludes, “The arts—music, creative writing, drawing, dance—provide skills sought by employers of the 3rd millennium.” Research on creativity shows that Nobel laureates in the sciences are 17 times more likely to be actively engaged in the arts than other scientists.

9) Arts improve healthcare. Nearly one-half of the nation’s healthcare institutions provide arts programming for patients, families, and even staff. 78 percent deliver these programs because of their healing benefits to patients—shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and less medication.

10) Arts and healing in the military. The arts are part of the military continuum—promoting readiness during pre-deployment as well as aiding in the successful reintegration and adjustment of Veterans and military families into community life. Service members and Veterans rank art therapies in the top 4 (out of 40) interventions and treatments.