The Georgia House on Wednesday passed a $17.8 billion state budget that would wipe out the Georgia Council for the Arts.
Georgia would become the only state in the U.S. without an arts agency if the plan holds as the budget works its way through the Senate before going to the governor.
The National Endowment for the Arts sent a letter warning that nearly $900,000 in federal arts funding falls in jeopardy if the is eliminated.
Governor Sonny Perdue’s proposed budget cuts include ending funding for the Georgia Cultural Affairs. The plan is to fold it into the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, an organization with no interest, nor experience, in the arts; neither do they have what it takes to apply for arts funding (public and private), run appropriate public relations, or even stage a simple juried exhibition.
I’d love to go into all the things Perdue has done that placed so much pressure on the state’s budget. Like his pet project, "Go Fish," a huge and very expensive complex designed to push what a great place Georgia is to fish. Not only were the bonds issued tax-free, but when across-the-board budget cuts were made, "Go Fish" was exempt.
Did I mention that the entire shebang is located in the community next-door to where the Governor lives?
Then there’s the matter of losing $20 million in Federal transportation funds because of Georgia’s seat belt law, which exempts drivers of pick-up trucks (whether the vehicle is used for business or not).
Metro arts groups are scrambling to organize patrons, artists and supporters to lobby state senators before they consider the bill. Four legislative days remain in the session, set to conclude April 29.
A coalition of artists plans to show support for the Georgia Council for the Arts by marching on the Capitol on Monday, April 19th, departing at 1:00 pm from the Rialto Theatre.
There is a Facebook page for the protest ("Artist march on the Capitol").
Please send emails and faxes to the head of the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office:
Paul D. Coverdell Legislative
Office Building, Suite 208
18 Capitol Square
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
(404) 463-1970
(404) 463-0346 FAX
Senate.Budget@senate.ga.gov
This diary is based on "State cutbacks put Georgia arts funds in jeopardy" and and "Artists to demonstrate against state's budget cuts," both by Howard Pousner in The Atlanta Journal Constitution.