By Tom McClimon
April 7, 2008

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, chair of the Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports, represented the Conference of Mayors at National Arts Advocacy Day events held April 1 in Washington (DC). Hannemann testified on behalf of the Conference of Mayors before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior. Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event designed to bring together a broad cross section of America’s national cultural and civic organizations to lobby in support of the arts. Organized annually by Americans for the Arts, the Conference of Mayors is a co'sponsor of the event.

“Mayors get it when it comes to the arts,” stated Hannemann in his testimony. “The arts are everywhere, throughout every city and town in the United States. The arts and culture is imbedded into the architecture of our homes, in the language we use to communicate, the different types of food we eat to nourish our bodies, in the music we listen to, the clothing we wear, and the activities we participate in as a community. It allows us to be individuals while at the same time the arts and culture links us as communities, cities, states, and a nation.”

Joining Hannemann in testifying were: actor/director Robert Redford, five time Grammy Award winner musician John Legend, actress Kerry Washington, Conference Board CEO Jonathan Spector, and Robert Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

“We must begin to look at the arts as one of the educational skills that will be carried within a child through their years in school and with them into the future. The creative skills learned will make a difference on how the future of America’s employment force competes in the world of tomorrow. Our social and economic benefits are dependent on it,” he said.

Hannemann called upon Congress to support full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts with a budget of $176 million. “The nation’s mayors unequivocally support full funding for the arts and humanities agencies. Mayors recognize the importance that the nonprofit arts industry plans in the economic and cultural vitality of cities.” The nonprofit arts and culture industry generates over $166 billion in economic activity annually, supports over 5.7 million jobs and returns over $12 billion in federal incomes taxes annually. Governments which support the arts see a return on investment of over $7 in taxes for every $1 that the government appropriates.

The mayor pointed out that the arts are part of the Mayors- 10-Point Plan, Strong Cities, Strong Families…for a Strong America. “By making arts and tourism part of our 10-Point Plan, the United States Conference of Mayors makes it emphatically clear that there is a need to address arts and culture as a viable and substantial subject of national importance.” The Mayors- 10-Point Plan calls for the creation of a Cabinet level Secretary of Culture and Tourism charged with forming a national policy for arts, culture, and tourism.

Congressman Norm Dicks (WA), chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, recognized the leadership that the mayors are taking on the arts. “A lot of leadership is coming from the mayors on a number of national issues be it the arts, greenhouse emissions or climate protection. The mayors are filling the void.”

Hannemann participated in the annual Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, which drew over 500 arts advocates from across the country along with key Congressional leaders. Hannemann joined Lynch in presenting the 2008 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership to Senator Patrick Leahy (VT).

In his remarks, Hannemann paid tribute to all the arts advocates from across the country for their work on behalf of the arts. “I want you to know that the nation’s mayors stand with you and support you in your efforts.” Holding up a copy of the Mayors- 10-Point Plan, the mayor spoke of the Conference’s support of a Cabinet level Department of Culture and Tourism and for full funding of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Leahy was selected for the Congressional Arts Leadership Award for his strong commitment to the arts. As lead sponsor of the Artistic Deduction Bill, Leahy has advocated for legislation that allows artists to claim a fair-market value tax deduction when donating their work to charity. In addition, he is a member of the Senate appropriations committee that handles funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

The National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership is part of a series of “Public Leadership in the Arts” awards given annually by the Americans for the Arts and the US Conference of Mayors since 1997.