Arts and Culture Funding for FY 2019 Federal Appropriations
Adopted at the 86th Annual Meeting in 2018
WHEREAS, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are the primary federal agencies that provide federal funding for the arts, humanities, museum, and library programs, activities, and efforts in the cities and states of America; and
WHEREAS, the NEA's and the NEH's 50-plus years of promoting cultural heritage and vitality throughout the nation has built a cultural infrastructure in this nation of arts and humanities agencies in every state, more than 95,000 nonprofit arts organizations, and 5,000 local arts agencies in cities throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, federal arts funding leverages on average more than nine times in matching funds from state and local governments, private foundations, corporations and individuals in communities across the nation to support the highest quality cultural programs in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) through their "Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account" calculates the arts and culture sector's contributions to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) at 4.2 percent or $730 billion, generating a U.S. trade surplus of $24.1 billion annually; and
WHEREAS, federal arts funding to cities, towns and states has helped stimulate the growth of local arts agencies in America's cities and counties with $860 million annually in local government funding, $357.5 million in state government funding to the arts, $152.8 million each in federal government funding for the NEA and NEH and $240 million for museums and libraries within IMLS, and $18.21 billion in private giving to the arts, culture and humanities; and
WHEREAS, federal funding for cultural activities stimulates local economies and improves the quality of civic life throughout the country, the NEA, NEH and IMLS support programs, such as the Mayors' Institute on City Design (MICD) which enhances community development, promotes cultural planning, stimulates business development, spurs urban renewal, attracts new businesses, draws significant cultural tourism dollars, and improves the overall quality of life in our cities and towns; and
WHEREAS, federal funding for cultural activities is essential to promote full access to and participation in exhibits, performances, arts education and other cultural events regardless of family income; and
WHEREAS, the NEA plays a very important role in developing partnerships with other federal agencies such as HUD, Defense, Education and Transportation, in order to open new channels for arts organizations to work with all aspects of government; and
WHEREAS, this year the arts lost its strongest champion on Capitol Hill with the unexpected passing of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY-25), the co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus for the last 21 years. Congresswoman Slaughter was the voice in Congress to educate Members on the economic, social, and educational benefits of the arts and culture in America; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors reaffirms its support of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services and calls upon Congress to support these agencies in the FY 2019 federal appropriations bills at $155 million each for the NEA and NEH, and $241.2 million for museums and libraries at the IMLS to serve arts organizations of all sizes in communities across the country; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the federal government to invest in nonprofit arts organizations through local arts agencies as a catalyst to generate economic impact, create jobs, stimulate business development, spur urban renewal, attract tourists and area residents to community activities, and to improve the overall quality of life in America's cities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors further encourage Congress to set up an additional grant fund in Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's name to help support future studies documenting the importance of the arts in America and to report back these findings annually to Congress.