By Jocelyn Bogen
April 19, 2010

Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran in conjunction with Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob L. Lynch presented the 2010 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA) at the Congressional Arts Kick Off event during the April 13 Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.

“Speaker Pelosi grew up in a family of mayors and thus understands the positive impact of the arts on cities. She truly deserves this award for her tireless work on placing the arts high on our national agenda,” said Cochran. “Under her leadership, the 111th Congress is making great strides in advancing cultural policy and federal arts funding in the United States.”

The National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership award recognizes distinguished public service on behalf of the arts. Pelosi received the Congressional Arts Leadership Award for her commitment to the arts as an outspoken defender of the creative industries in her home of San Francisco and across the country.

 “Our mayors understand their role in this legacy: working hand-in-hand with art directors in cities large and small; collaborating with Americans for the Arts, empowering local artists, and investing in local arts education initiatives; fighting – alongside Chairwoman Louise Slaughter – to expand NEA funding, even as opponents tried to reduce investment in the arts,” said Pelosi. She was also recognized for her personal involvement and leadership in securing funding to save nonprofit arts jobs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

 “Speaker Pelosi is on the front lines in Congress as a champion for the arts, and her dedication can be demonstrated by her actions. Under her leadership, the House speaks up for all of the arts, and often against strong and vocal headwinds. The arts community thanks her for her perseverance,” said Lynch.

The National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership is part of a series of Public Leadership in the Arts Awards given annually by Americans for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors since 1997. Earlier this year at the Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting, the 2010 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards were presented to Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and musician Michael Feinstein.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter advocated on behalf of The United States Conference of Mayors for increased public funding for the arts and humanities at an arts hearing on April 13 hosted by Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior Rep. James P. Moran (VA). “The arts anchor our neighborhoods. They are an integral part of our civic identity, a vital part of the fabric of Philadelphia community life, a key ingredient in the education and enrichment of our children, as well as a major segment of our economy,” said Nutter. He asked the Subcommittee to approve a budget of $180 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for the creation, preservation, and presentation of the arts in America. Nutter stated, “Philadelphia Arts organizations employ residents, and attract and retain residents, job seekers and businesses. On a regional basis, about 1,300 non-profit arts organizations put on more than 50,000 events annually. The regional non-profit cultural sector generates $1.3 billion in annual expenditures, 40,000 jobs and $158.5 million in State and local taxes.”

Witnesses at the “Arts in Service of Communities” hearing included: NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman, Lynch, actors Kyle MacLachlan and Jeff Daniels, Ovation CEO Charles Segars, Brig. Gen. Nolen V. Bivens, and North Dakota arts leader Terri Aldrich.